Culture

Mexico City Has Been Hit By A ‘Powerful’ 7.1 Earthquake On The Anniversary Of The Devastating 1985 Quake


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Please see updates at the bottom of this post.

Mexico City and the surrounding area were struck by an extremely strong earthquake on Tuesday. According to the Associated Press, the “powerful” quake shook the city sometime in the afternoon, though details weren’t immediately available. Subsequent reports from the Los Angeles Times and BBC News indicated a variety of possible numbers on the Richter magnitude scale — including 6.8 and 7.1, respectively. The latter updated their initial post soon after, citing the U.S. Geological Survey’s indication that a 7.1 earthquake (officially now, according to the AP) hit southern Mexico and caused damage in the capital city.

Reporters on the scene posted photos of people gathering in the streets after the earthquake. Others not on location, like BuzzFeed’s Vera Bergengruen, cited information from family members in the area who “ran outside” the airport to escape possible injury from falling debris during the powerful event.

NBC Los Angeles reported the quake was centered “east of the city in the state of Puebla.” They, BBC News and others also made note of the date’s significance, as 32 years prior a massive 8.0 earthquake (and several aftershocks) struck the city and the surround area. Over 5,000 people were killed during and after the 1985 quake.

https://twitter.com/AFPMexico/status/910182995969101825

An 8.1 earthquake previously hit just off Mexico’s Pacific coast in early September, causing significant damage and a tsunami warning.


UPDATE #1 – 4:00pm EST: According to Reuters, at least five people have died in the central Mexican state of Puebla, just outside of Mexico City.

UPDATE #2 – 5:20pm EST: The New York Times updates the death toll to 42 people.

UPDATE #3 – 9:00 pm EST: CNN is now reporting that over 100 people have perished as a result of the earthquake.

UPDATE #4: Additional photos of videos from during the earthquake and its immediate aftermath are spreading on Twitter thanks to journalists, state officials and witnesses on the scene. They are SFW, though some — including videos of an explosion and a building collapse — are quite horrific.

https://twitter.com/mcantu06/status/910221789619527680

(Via Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, NBC Los Angeles and BBC News)