MEXICO CITY, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- A powerful earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale struck off Mexico's southern coast on late Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The epicenter is 96 km southwest of the town of Pijijiapan in the Mexican state of Chiapas, at a depth of 33 km.

The shock was also felt in the capital of Mexico city, many people ran out of the buildings to the streets.

People said the shock lasted for about twenty seconds and the windows and beds in the buildings were shaking when the quake occurred.