Tuxtla Gutiérrez was the epicenter of a 4.1 magnitude earthquake that surprised the inhabitants of the state of Chiapas today at 12:42 local time (18:42 UTC).
The earthquake happened 41 km north of the city and had a depth of 5 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 Chiapas 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 a tremor, check your house for possible damage, use your phone only in emergency, do not wear matches or candles until you make sure there is no gas leak and remember that aftershocks of the earthquake may occur, so it is important to stay 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 place, 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, stay away from the beach and take refuge in high areas.
Telluric movements in Mexico
Mexico stands out as one of the countries with more seismic activity. Popular memory recalls above all the events of 1985 and 2017, earthquakes that caused devastation in its territory. Despite being the most remembered, they were not the largest since modern times.
The strongest earthquake recorded in the history of what Mexico today had its epicenter in Oaxaca. On March 28, 1787, the earth shook with the force of 8.6. Not only did the land vibrate, but also the sea showed its fury with a tsunami that went up to 6 kilometers beyond the coastline.
Far from considering it an isolated event, the Centre for Instrumentation and Seismic Recording (Cires) considers the possibility that the country will face a similar situation in the near future. In the studies carried out in 2009 to analyze the aforementioned event, it was concluded that earthquakes of a similar magnitude may develop in the area between the coasts of Mexico and Central America. There, in the so-called Guerrero Breach, there is great geological potential to provoke catastrophes of such proportions.
However, a smaller magnitude in a seismic event does not necessarily translate into a minor impact on buildings and infrastructure. Thus, in 1985 and 2017, the inhabitants of the capital, Mexico City, had to face the devastation resulting from two earthquakes that became a water part of their lives.
On September 19, 1985 occurred at 7:19 local time (13:19 UTC) with a magnitude of 8.2 and with an epicenter in the state of Guerrero. Since that earthquake many thought that something like this would not happen again. But it happened again exactly 32 years later.
In 2017, it happened at 13:14 local time (18:30 UTC), with epicenter in an area between the states of Puebla and Morelos. Then, the death toll reached 369.
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