Natural Disasters

Strong earthquake rattles southwest Mexico

A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Saturday night, about 100 miles south-southwest of the capital, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake, which hit at 7:47 p.m. local time, had an estimated depth of 40 miles, the USGS said. The agency earlier said it was 6.7 magnitude.

There were no immediate reports of major damage in the capital, but several areas were without power, Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard wrote on his Twitter page.

No injuries were reported in the quake, located in Guerrero state.

Some startled residents in Mexico City ran out of their houses and into the streets. Loud sirens sounded.

4,000 Brazilians evacuated as dike bursts after heavy rains

People watch water run through a washed-out road Thursday in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state

Brazilian authorities on Thursday said they were evacuating 4,000 people in the state of Rio de Janeiro after days of heavy rains burst a river dike.

According to the Municipal Civil Defense, floodwaters opened up a 20-meter-wide crater in the highway outside of Campos dos Goytacazes, which is about 275 kilometers (170 miles) northeast of the coastal city of Rio de Janeiro.

Heavy rains across southern and central Brazil have also wreaked havoc in the state of Minas Gerais, an inland state to the southeast of the nation's capital of Brasilia.

This wet weather spurred mudslides and flooding that earlier killed eight people and forced another 10,000 to leave their homes. This state has declared a state of emergency in 71 towns.

January is usually a month with heavy rains. A year ago, more than 800 people died due to floods in the state of Rio de Janeiro.