Mexico's Pacific Coast Rocked by 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake
On Monday, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the central Pacific coast of Mexico, killing at least one person. This took place on the anniversary of two devastating earthquakes in Mexico's history.
Facts
- On Monday, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake rocked the central Pacific coast of Mexico, killing at least one person. This took place on the anniversary of two devastating earthquakes in Mexico's history.
- Initially measured at 7.5 magnitude by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake began around 1:05 p.m. bringing early reports of damage to structures. The epicenter was recorded at 23 mi. southeast of Aquila, near the border of Colima and Michoacán states at a depth of 9.4 mi.
- This came five years to the day that an earthquake killed 370 people in central and southern regions of the country, and, on the same day in 1985, another quake killed 5K people. Sept. 19 has been characterized as a day of fear in popular culture.
- Despite these coincidences, a USGS seismologist suggested that "there's no physical reason or statistical bias toward earthquakes in a given month in Mexico."
- 30 percent of Mexican residents that lived through the Sept. 19, 2017 earthquake have reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress.
Sources: NPR, Washington Post, Guardian, CBS, and Vice.
Narratives
- Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by Mexico News Daily. Within Latin America, Chile has become the gold standard for learning lessons from devastating earthquakes to enhance future preparedness. Unfortunately, in contrast, Mexico is repeatedly devastated by earthquakes, and the poor and vulnerable continue to suffer. Mexican officials need to step up and begin legislative conversations that will enhance preparedness before the next big quake.
- Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by PAHO Emergencies News. For decades, Mexican authorities have been working to develop a detailed disaster risk reduction and preparedness plan. Through a presidential mandate, a federal, large-scale earthquake plan was then developed. Mexico now effectively coordinates federal agencies, civil society groups, and the private sector to improve response and recovery to tragedies like these.
