Ometepec, Guerrero, records earthquake of magnitude 3.3

Ometepec was the epicenter of a 3.3 magnitude earthquake that surprised the inhabitants of the state of Guerrero today at 3:23am local time (9:23 UTC).

The earthquake happened 37 km northwest of the city and had a depth of 32 kilometers, according to preliminary information.

Given the recent history of the telluric movement, the extent of the affectation in terms of material damage and human casualties in the state of Guerrero 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 house for possible damage, use your phone only in case of emergency, don't wear matches or candles until you make sure there is no gas leak and remember that there may be aftershocks of the earthquake, so it's important to stay alert.

You can also take the following steps before an earthquake: prepare a civil protection plan, organize evacuation drills, identify safety zones at home, school or workplace, and prepare 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 vehicle, park and stay away from buildings, trees and poles; and if you are located on the coast, stay away from the beach and take refuge in high areas.

Earthquakes in Mexico

It should be mentioned that Mexico is at constant risk of to experience 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 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.

But even smaller earthquakes can cause great damage. An example of this were the seismic events of 1985 and 2017. On those occasions, the lives of the inhabitants of Mexico City were disrupted, while both the Government and private citizens rebuilt buildings and infrastructure.

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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EARTHQUAKES