Moderate Earthquake Hits Oaxaca, Mexico

PUERTO ANGEL, Mexico -- A magnitude 5.7-earthquake shook southern Mexico near the Oaxaca coast Monday, setting off evacuation alarms and swaying buildings as far away as Mexico City.

The quake was centered 35 miles north of thefishing and resort town of Puerto Angel, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's Earthquake Hazards Program.

It struck at 6:47 p.m. local time and was felt 280 miles away in Mexico City.

Oaxaca state's civil protection agency said it had received no reports of damage or injury.

"Here in Puerto Angel is was pretty quick. There wasn't enough time to go out into the street," said Florencia Peliconi, manager of the seaside Hotel Villa Serena Florencia.

She saw no damage to buildings. "It was more noise (than shaking). Like a truck was coming," she said.

In the state capital of Oaxaca, 65 miles northwest of the quake center, the tremor set off earthquake evacuation alarms, sending people streaming out of shops and stores.

The alarms are designed to go off in earthquakes above magnitude 5.0.