Mexico is a seismic country, so it is important to remain attentive to telluric movements. (Infobase)

An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 and a depth of 10 kilometers took the townspeople by surprise CD Hidalgo at 5:18 a.m. local time (11:18 a.m. UTC) today.

The movement had its epicenter 135 km southwest of the said city in the state of Chiapas, according to initial information from the National Seismological Service (SSN).

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, search 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: prepare a civil protection plan, organize evacuation drills, find safe areas home, school or workplace and set up a emergency backpack.

(Jovani Perez/GlobeLiveMedia)
(Jovani Perez/GlobeLiveMedia)

Mexico stands out as one of the countries with the greatest seismic activity. In popular memory, the events of 1985 and 2017 are mostly remembered, movements that wreaked havoc on their territory. Although they are the best known, they were not the greatest since modern times.

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.

Far from considering it as an isolated event, The Center for Seismic Instrumentation and Recording (Cires) estimates the possibility that the country will face a similar situation in the near future. In studies conducted in 2009 to analyze the aforementioned event, it was concluded that earthquakes of a similar magnitude can develop in the area between the coasts of Mexico and Central America. There, in the so-called Guerrero Gap, there is great geological potential to cause disasters of such proportions.

But even smaller earthquakes can cause significant damage. Examples of the above were the seismic events of 1985 and 2017. On these occasions, the lives of Mexico City residents were turned upside down, while the government and citizens rebuilt buildings and infrastructure.

On September 19, 1985, an earthquake magnitude 8.2, with 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 this magnitude, but a similar event occurred exactly 32 years later.

In 2017, it happened at 1:14 p.m. local time (6:30 p.m. UTC), with its epicenter in an area between the states of Puebla and Morelos. Then the death toll reached 369.

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