Magnitude 5.4 Quake Hits Northern Mexico - USGS

The quake, only 4.3 miles (7 km) deep, was centered only 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Mexicali.

A magnitude 5.4 quake struck close to the northern Mexican city of Mexicali in Baja California on Saturday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said, but there was no immediate report of any casualties or damage.

The USGS said the very shallow quake, only 4.3 miles (7 km) deep, was centered 16 miles (26 km) southeast of Mexicali, a city with an estimated population of one million.

"The earthquake felt very strong," Edith Cruz, admitting nurse at the Red Cross Hospital emergency room in Mexicali, told Reuters. "So far we have only admitted three people with nervous breakdowns and with high blood pressure. We don't have any further reports," she added.

Ricardo Romero, supervisor for the Mexicali Emergency Center, said the quake had not caused any structural damage.

"There are no immediate reports of damage to buildings so far. Power cuts and problems with telephone lines were reported in some areas of the city, but everything is back to normal again," he told Reuters.

The USGS Web site showed the quake was widely felt across the border in Yuma, Arizona and as far as San Diego, California.