Magnitude 4.3 earthquake with epicenter in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca

The National Seismological Service (SSN) reported a magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Salina Cruz which occurred at 4:21 p.m. local time (22:21 UTC).

Preliminary information indicates that the quake had an epicenter 130 km southeast of the city, in the state of Oaxaca, with a depth of 25.8 km and was perceived by the inhabitants of the city.

In the event of significant seismic activity, the The National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred) calls not to fall into the trap of rumors or fake news and to obtain information only from official sourcessuch as civil protection authorities, both local and state, as well as federal.

After an earthquake, look for your house possible damage, only use your mobile phone in an emergency, do not light matches or candles until you make sure there are no gas leaks and remember that there may be aftershocks of the earthquakeit is therefore important to be vigilant.

You can also take the following actions before an earthquake: prepares a civil security plan, participates in evacuation drills, identifies security zones home, school or workplace and prepare a emergency backpack.

This is not the first time that Mexico has suffered this type of onslaught from nature. Its geographical position permanently exposes it to the risk of suffering these events. Thus, in 1985 and 2017, there were seismic movements that caused enormous destruction in the country. Although these two are the most recognized today, they are not the most important in the territory.

The strongest earthquake recorded in the history of what is now Mexico had its epicenter in Oaxaca. This March 28, 1787was shaking from the force of magnitude 8.6. The land not only vibrated but also the sea showed its fury with a tsunami that went up to 6 kilometers beyond the coast.

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

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

As for the one in 1985, it happened on September 19 of that year at 7:19 a.m. local time (1:19 p.m. UTC), with its 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 coincidentally it happened again exactly 32 years later.

That of 2017 was recorded at 1:14 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. UTC) with an epicenter on the borders of the states of Puebla and Morelos and left a death toll of 369 in the center of the country.