5.9 Quake Strikes Mexico, Earthquake Swarm In Iceland Intensifies With 5.2 and 4.5, More Than 2,000 Quakes In 4 Days

5.9 quake hits southern Mexico, days after more powerful one

The U.S. Geological Survey says an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 has struck the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, days after a more powerful temblor hit the same area.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck just before 0700 GMT Monday, was about 30 kilometers (20 miles) northeast of the town of Santa Catarina Mechoacan. It had a depth of 40 meters (130 feet).

On Friday, Mexico escaped major destruction from a magnitude 7.2 earthquake that jolted southern and central parts of the country, though 13 people were killed in the crash of a helicopter sent to assess the damage. The epicenter of that quake wasn't far from the latest one.

Mexico earthquake: 5.9-magnitude quake shakes Mexico City

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico early Monday, but it was shorter and less intense than one that struck in the same area, damaging about 1,000 houses, on Friday.

Monday's quake struck 27 miles east of Oaxaca at a depth of six miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said. Oaxaca is about 300 miles south of Mexico City. There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The quake triggered emergency alarms and jarred awake residents as far away as Mexico City who scrambled into the streets.

Friday's tremors caused tall buildings in Mexico's capital to sway for over two minutes and revived memories of two earthquakes in September last year that killed several hundred people in Mexico City and other parts of the country. 

Earthquake swarm in Iceland intensifies with M5.2 and M4.5 earthquakes and more than 2,000 earthquakes in 4 days

People are constantly being shaken awake on Grimsey Island, in North Iceland. A M5.2 earthquake hit around 5:30 this morning. One hour later a M4.5 quake hit the same region, which is under high seismic activity with more than 2,000 earthquakes detected since February 14th. Both tremblors as well as more than 6 aftershocks were felt by residents of the island. This is not the first swarm to occur in the area, though such an active one has not occurred since 1988, nearly 30 years ago.

Here some links to the two most powerful quakes of the sequence so far:

M 5.0 – 53km NNW of Husavik, Iceland
M 4.5 – 36km NNW of Husavik, Iceland

A lot of tension has accumulated around Grimsey Island because it has been a long time since there was a big earthquake there. People have begun to think that there could be a big earthquake on the way.

Though the source of the earthquakes is a fault line and a volcanic area, official source states there is no indication the earthquakes are connected to volcanic activity.