Strong 6.9 earthquake shakes Mexico's Baja California peninsula

Experts from the US Geological Survey said a powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake today struck off the coast of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The quake struck at 11:53 am (1753 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometers, the USGS said.

The earthquake epicenter was in the Sea of Cortez between the coast of the Mexican mainland and the southern end of the Baja peninsula, 105 kilometers south of the city of Los Mochis and 140 kilometers north-east of La Paz, Baja California, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. The Pacific Tsunami center said the quake had not triggered a tsunami but could cause local waves.

The same region was hit by three moderately powerful earthquakes ranging in magnitude from 5.5 to 5.8 Tuesday night and early Wednesday, but they caused no known damage.

Alberto Montoya Rodriguez, who runs the losmochis.com said it seemed to shake for more than a minute, sending him and his neighbors into the streets. "There was a lot a panic, but there was no damage beyond, just a big scare.", he added.

Hotels and public buildings in the cities of Guasave, and Los Mochis and Culiacan were evacuated, Telemundo in Los Angeles reported. Some damage was reported in Los Mochis, but its extent was unclear. Alejandra Cruz, a worker who answered the telephone at the Best Western Hotel in Los Mochis, said employees and guests were evacuated but returned to the building shortly after.