Tremble in Mexico: earthquake in Cihuatlán

The National Seismological Service reported that today at 6:16 local time (12:16 UTC) there was an earthquake in Sihuatlan, with a magnitude of 4.0 and a depth of 22 kilometers.

According to preliminary information, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 22 km south-west of the city, in the state of Jalisco.

There is still no news of victims and material damage from this telluric movement in the state of Jalisco.

In the face of significant seismic activity, the National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) advises not to fall into rumors or false news and only inform itself official Sources, such as civil defense authorities, both local and state, as well as federal.

After an earthquake, check your home for possible damage, use your phone only in case of emergency, do not wear matches or candles until you make sure there is no gas leak and remember that earthquake shocks may occur, so it is important to be vigilant.

You can also take the following steps before the earthquake: prepare a civil protection plan, participate in evacuation exercises, find safety zones at home, school or workplace, and prepare an emergency backpack.

During earthquakes, stay calm and in a safe place, stay away from falling objects; if you are in a vehicle, park and stay away from buildings, trees and poles; and if you are on the coast, stay away from the beach and take refuge in high areas.

Mexico Earthquake

Mexicans are used for this type of event, since the country is located in a zone of high seismicity. It is worth mentioning the great damage caused by the earthquakes of 1985 and 2017, which caused great havoc in the entire Aztec region. However, in the history of this Latin American nation there are records of even more destructive movements.

The strongest earthquake in the history of Mexico was recorded on March 28, 1787, at the time of Spanish colonization. Its epicenter was in Oaxaca and had a magnitude of 8.6. Not only did it make the Earth vibrate incredibly, but it also caused a tsunami that reached 6 kilometers inland.

According to data from the Center for Instrumentation and Seismic Recording (Cires), carried out in 2009 on earthquakes, there is a possibility of a recurrence of events above this magnitude. It is anticipated that they could happen in the coming years. Its epicenter is calculated on the coasts of Mexico and Central America, since they are located in the so-called Guerrero breech. This area is characterized by the accumulation of a large amount of geological energy.

However, seismic events of low magnitude can also cause great destruction. During 1985 and 2017, Mexicans watched with amazement as the country's capital plunged into chaos due to two earthquakes of lesser intensity than 1787.

For 1985, it took place on September 19 of that year at 7:19 local time (13:19 UTC), with epicenter in the state of Guerrero and a magnitude of 8.2. Since then, it was believed that nothing like this would happen again, but incidentally, it happened again after 32 years.

The 2017 incident took place between the states of Puebla and Morelos at 13:14 local time (18:30 UTC). The number of human casualties reached 369 deaths.

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