EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO VIA THE NATIONAL SEISMIC SERVICE
In the context of Plate Tectonics, Mexico is located in the so-called Ring of Fire, where a large part of the seismic movements worldwide are recorded. The country is located on the North American Plate, bordered on its southern and western portion by the Cocos, Rivera, and Pacific plates.
Read more Tilín, the viral boy who now represents Peru as a scissor dancer in the Great Military Parade
Mexico is one of the countries in the world with the highest seismic activity, as according to statistics, more than 90 earthquakes per year with a magnitude greater than 4 on the Richter scale are recorded, which is equivalent to 60% of all seismic movements recorded worldwide.
Based on statistical records, the states with the highest risk and where large magnitude earthquakes that can affect Mexico City occur are: Jalisco, Colima, Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Puebla, State of Mexico, and Veracruz.
- What are “earthquake lights” and why do they occur?
Earthquake lights are an unusual luminous phenomenon that some people report seeing in the sky during or before an earthquake. Although they are rare, scientists suggest they could be caused by electrical charges released due to friction and stress in certain types of rocks in the Earth’s crust during seismic rupture.
Read more The secret to a lasting love? Why more and more couples choose to live in separate houses
- Are nighttime earthquakes more dangerous?
Yes, in terms of preparedness. Nighttime earthquakes are more dangerous because people are usually asleep, which reduces reaction time, makes safe evacuation difficult, and increases the likelihood of accidents from falling objects in the dark.
- As of 08:00 on July 29, 2026, 1,141 aftershocks of the M 7.4 earthquake that occurred in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas on July 17, 2026, have been recorded, the largest with a magnitude of M 6.5.
- CAN ALL EARTHQUAKES GENERATE TSUNAMIS?
A tsunami consists of waves several meters high produced by an earthquake whose hypocenter occurs under the ocean. These earthquakes cause the seabed to move vertically, generating a violent displacement of the volume of water above it.
- Earthquake 143 km SOUTHWEST of CD HIDALGO
- Local Date and Time: 2026-07-29 5:01:28
- Magnitude: 4.2
- Depth: 11.5 km
- Latitude: 13.969
- Longitude: -93.264
- Earthquake 39 km SOUTH of ARCELIA
- Local Date and Time: 2026-07-29 4:17:09
- Magnitude: 4.0
- Depth: 57.6 km
- Latitude: 17.963
- Longitude: -100.343
Recent earthquakes reported by the SSN.
- WHAT IS THE LARGEST MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE THAT SHOOK MEXICO CITY?
- On September 19, 1985, Mexico City experienced a devastating 8.1 magnitude earthquake, with its epicenter on the Pacific coast. It is estimated that at least 10,000 people lost their lives, affecting and collapsing thousands of housing, commercial, and public service structures.
- WHAT IS SEISMIC SILENCE?
- Seismic silence is a prolonged period without significant seismic activity or intensity in a region, which may indicate the accumulation of tectonic stresses and an increased risk of a future earthquake.
- WHAT IS AN EARTHQUAKE?
- An earthquake is a sudden rupture of rocks inside the Earth. This sudden release of energy propagates as waves that cause ground movement.
- HOW LONG DOES AN EARTHQUAKE LAST AND WHY DOES THE SSN NOT REPORT THIS DATA?
- When we talk about the duration of an earthquake, we can refer to several different concepts: One is the duration of the movement perceived by humans, another is the duration of the instrumental record (which can be several minutes), and another is the time the fault movement that caused the earthquake lasted (which can be just a few seconds).
- WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MAGNITUDE AND INTENSITY OF AN EARTHQUAKE?
- They are scales to measure the size or impact of a tremor. The magnitude scale is obtained numerically from records obtained by seismographs and is related to the size and energy released during a tremor. The intensity scale is assigned based on the damage or effects caused to people and their constructions.
- WHY DO SO MANY EARTHQUAKES OCCUR IN MEXICO?
- In the context of Plate Tectonics, Mexico is located in the so-called Ring of Fire, where a large part of the seismic movements worldwide are recorded. The country is located on the North American Plate, bordered on its southern and western portion by the Cocos, Rivera, and Pacific plates.
- Mexico is one of the countries in the world with the highest seismic activity, as according to statistics, more than 90 earthquakes per year with a magnitude greater than 4 on the Richter scale are recorded, which is equivalent to 60% of all seismic movements recorded worldwide.
What was the magnitude and where was the last earthquake in Mexico? Watch live here the reports from the National Seismic Service SSN about earthquakes in the country.
