Massive magnitude 8.0 earthquake shakes Mexico's capital

A massive earthquake hit off the coast of southern Mexico late Thursday night, causing buildings to sway violently and people to flee to the streets in panic as far away as the capital city,Associated Press reports.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 8.0 and had a depth of 35 kilometers (22 miles)

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System says widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible on the Pacific coasts of several Central American countries. It said waves were possible within the next three hours for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras and Ecuador.