Matias Romero registers earthquake of magnitude 4.2

Matías Romero was the epicenter of a 4.2 magnitude earthquake that surprised the inhabitants of the state of Oaxaca today at 21:34 local time (3:34 UTC).

The earthquake happened 27 km west of the city and had a depth of 100 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 Oaxaca remain unquantified.

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 house 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 replicas of the earthquake may occur, 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 set up an emergency backpack.

During an earthquake, stay calm and stay in a safe zone, 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, get away from the beach and take refuge in high areas.

Earthquakes in Mexico

This is not the first time that Mexico has suffered this type of attack from nature. Its geographical position places it at constant risk of experiencing these events. Thus, in 1985 and 2017, there were seismic movements that caused enormous destruction in the nation. Although these two are the most recognized today, they are not the largest in the territory.

On March 28, 1787, a colonial Oaxaca was shaken by what has been the strongest earthquake recorded in Mexico so far. With a magnitude of 8.6, it was followed by a tsunami that went 6 kilometers beyond the coast.

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, 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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