7.4 magnitude earthquake hits southern Mexico

7.4 magnitude earthquake hits southern Mexico

(CNN)A 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico's southern coastline on Tuesday, collapsing buildings and prompting evacuations, has left at least five people dead, officials said.

The earthquake occurred at 10:29 a.m. local time (11:29 a.m. ET), with an epicenter 6.8 miles southwest of Santa María Zapotitlán in Oaxaca state, near El Coyul.

At least five people were killed, according to the coordinator for Mexico's National Civil Protection Service.

Oaxaca state Gov. Alejandro Murat said a 22-year-old woman and a man were among the dead.

The Oaxacan Health Services also reported damages from the quake to general hospitals in Pochutla, Puerto Escondido and Pinotepa Nacional and a few community hospitals in other areas. According to Murat, two of the hospitals with damages have been dealing with coronavirus patients.

"We are verifying [damages] because this hospital is also tending Covid cases on the Oaxacan coast," he said on a radio interview with Radio Fórmula. The severity of the damages are not specified.

The National Civil Protection Service reported the first death after a structure collapsed after the earthquake, which occurred just east of the popular tourist destination Huatulco.

Authorities also reported a power outage throughout the state's capital and damages to the exterior of a hospital in Oaxaca.

The earthquake could be felt as far as Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. In capital Mexico City, approximately 190 miles north of the epicenter, tremors were felt and sirens were heard wailing.