Magnitude 4.0 earthquake with epicenter in Matías Romero

Matías Romero was the epicenter of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that surprised the inhabitants of the state of Oaxaca today at 12:32 local time (18:32 UTC).

The earthquake occurred 34 km northeast of the city and had a depth of 89 kilometers, according to preliminary information.

Given the recent history of the telluric movement, the extent of the impact in terms of material damage and human casualties in the state of Oaxaca is still unknown.

In the face of significant seismic activity, the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) calls for not falling into rumors or false news and only to report to official sources, such as the Civil Protection 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 light matches or candles until you make sure there is no gas leak and remember that aftershocks of the earthquake may occur, so it is important to stay alert.

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

During an earthquake stay calm and stay in a safe place, stay away from objects that may fall; if you are in a car, 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.

Earthquakes in Mexico

Mexico stands out as one of the countries with the most seismic activity. Popular memory recalls above all the events of 1985 and 2017, tremors that caused devastation in its territory. Despite being the most remembered, they were not the largest since modern times.

The strongest earthquake recorded in the history of what is now Mexico occurred on March 28, 1787, at the time of the Spanish colony. Its epicenter was in Oaxaca and it had a magnitude of 8.6. Not only did this make the earth vibrate incredibly, but it even caused a tsunami that reached 6 kilometers inland.

According to a study by the Center for Instrumentation and Seismic Record (Cires) carried out in 2009 on the earthquake of March 28, 1787, large earthquakes with magnitudes of 8.6 or greater could occur in the coming years. These will have as their epicenter the coasts of Mexico and Central America, because they are located in the Guerrero Breach that accumulates a large amount of energy.

However, such a great magnitude is not necessary to wreak chaos. Mexicans keep memories of minor earthquakes, which occurred in 1985 and 2017. On such occasions, the entire capital and states were paralyzed by the unparalleled consequences of such telluric movements.

As for 1985, it happened 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 it would happen again, but, coincidentally, it happened again exactly 32 years later.

The year 2017 was recorded at 13.14 local hours (18:30 UTC) with an epicenter in the borders of the states of Puebla and Morelos and left a total of 369 deaths in the center of the country.

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