2017 Chiapas earthquake

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The 2017 Chiapas earthquake struck at 23:49

The earthquake caused all of Mexico City to tremble, prompting people to evacuate after the early warning system was triggered.^[7] It also generated a tsunami with waves 1.75 metres (5 ft 9 in) above tide level;^[8] and tsunami alerts were issued for surrounding areas.^[9] Mexico's president called it the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in a century.^[10] It was also the second strongest recorded in the country's history, behind the magnitude 8.6 earthquake in 1787,^[11] the largest recorded globally in 2017 and the largest earthquake worldwide since the 2015 illapel earthquake.^[12]

Tectonic setting

The Gulf of Tehuantepec lies above the convergent boundary where the Cocos Plate is being subducted below the North American Plate at a rate of 6.4 cm/yr (2.5 in/yr).^[13][14]

Background

On 6 September, several

According to the National Seismological Service (SSN) of Mexico, the epicenter was located in the Gulf of Tehuantepec, about 137 kilometres (85 mi) southeast of Tonalá, Chiapas.^[16] The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the epicenter was about 87 kilometres (54 mi) southwest of Pijijiapan, Chiapas.^[1] The hypocenter was about 45 kilometres (28 mi) underground, deeper than usual for a relatively new subduction zone.^[17] The SSN reported a measurement of M 8.2,^[16] while the USGS also reported a M 8.2 earthquake after correcting an earlier estimate of M 8.0.^[1] The earthquake was a result of normal faulting within the Cocos Plate with a displacement of up to 10 metres (33 ft).^[1][18] The entire thickness of the lithosphere of the Cocos Plate ruptured during the earthquake.^[17]

The earthquake is the most powerful in Mexico to be measured by seismographs. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto called the earthquake the "largest in at least a century" and said that it was felt by 50 million people.^[10][19]

Geophysicists at the National Autonomous University of Mexico speculated that the earthquake relieved stored pressure in the "Tehuantepec gap", making future earthquakes in the region less likely.^[20]

Tsunami

A tsunami with waves of 1 m (3.3 ft) and higher was generated by the earthquake and was recorded at Salina Cruz;^[21] A tsunami wave of 1.75 m (5.7 ft) was reported in Chiapas.^[8] The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for the entire Pacific coast of Central America, also extending south to Ecuador.^[10][22]

Aftershocks

In the hour following the earthquake, at least 12

Damage and aftermath

Damage to Juchitán de Zaragoza City Hall

City Hall in November 2006

City Hall on 8 September 2017

Within Chiapas, an estimated 1.5 million people were affected by the earthquake, with 41,000 homes damaged.

Buildings in Juchitán de Zaragoza, Oaxaca, closest to the epicenter, were "reduced to rubble" according to reports from the town's mayor.^[31]

The earthquake also caused buildings to shake and sway in Mexico City, while also knocking out electricity for 1.8 million people.^[25][29] There were reports of glass shattered at Mexico City International Airport.^[32] A highway bridge under construction near Mexico City's new international airport collapsed due to the shaking.^[33]

The epicenter was near Mexico's border with Guatemala, where the quake was felt in Guatemala City, and infrastructure damage was reported by CONRED in the nation's south-west.^[2] President Jimmy Morales stated that one Guatemalan was killed.^[34]

• 
  President Enrique Peña Nieto inspecting damage to a home in Juchitán, Oaxaca
• 
  Collection Center for the victims of the earthquake, Mexico City City Hall

Response

On 11 September, Mexico recalled its aid to the United States, offered in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, to focus on earthquake recovery.^[35]

United States President Donald Trump called Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on 14 September, a week after the earthquake, to express his condolences.^[36]

Three years after the earthquake, Governor

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2017 Chiapas earthquake.

• 2017 Puebla earthquake
• List of earthquakes in 2017
• List of earthquakes in Mexico

References