Cd Hidalgo was the epicenter of a magnitude 4.0 earthquake that surprised the inhabitants of the state of Chiapas today at 14:01 local time (20:01 UTC).
The earthquake happened 123 km southwest of the city and had a depth of 14 kilometers, according to preliminary information.
Due to the recent events, the material damage and the number of victims of the telluric movement in the state of Chiapas remain unquantified.
In the face of significant seismic activity, the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) recommends not falling into rumors or false news and only reporting to official sources, such as the Civil Protection authorities, both local and state, as well as federal.
After an earthquake, check your house for possible damage, use your cell phone only in case of emergency, do not wear matches or candles until you make sure there is no gas leak and remember that there may be replicas of the earthquake, so it is important to be 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 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.
Earthquakes in Mexico
It isworth noting that Mexico is constantly at risk of experiencing an earthquake of great magnitude, such as those that happened in September 1985 and 2017. Such movements caused misfortunes and, despite being the most remembered, have not been the largest in the country.
During the colonial era, the strongest earthquake in the history of what is now Mexico occurred. It happened on March 28, 1787, its epicenter was in Oaxaca, it had a magnitude of 8.6. The movement was so violent that it caused not only the earth to shake, but also caused a tsunami that reached 6 kilometers inland.
According to the data of the Centre for Instrumentation and Seismic Recording (Cires), carried out in 2009 on the earthquake cited, there is the possibility of a repetition of events above this magnitude. It is estimated that they may occur in the years to come. Its epicenter is calculated on the coasts of Mexico and Central America, since these are located in the so-called Guerrero Breach. This area is characterized by the accumulation of a large amount of geological energy.
However, seismic events of lower magnitudes can also cause great destruction. During 1985 and 2017, Mexicans watched with astonishment as the country's capital plunged into chaos due to two earthquakes of less intensity than in 1787.
On September 19, 1985, an earthquake of magnitude 8.2 occurred, with an epicenter in the state of Guerrero. It was 07:19 local time (13:19 UTC). At that time, it was thought that there would be no more earthquakes of such dimensions, but a related event occurred 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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