“The president said that 62 aftershocks followed the quake and it’s possible that one as strong as 7.2 could strike in the next 24 hours,”Ā BloombergĀ reported. (Photo: U.S. Geological Survey)
Friday’s quake was stronger than the 1985 earthquake that devastated the country and left thousands dead.
By Jake Johnson / 09.08.2017
A massive earthquake struck off the Pacific Coast of Mexico early Friday, sparkingĀ evacuationsĀ andĀ tsunami warnings.
Initial reports from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) placed the magnitude of the quake at 8.1, but it was later revised upward to an 8.2,Ā more powerfulĀ than the 1985 earthquake that devastated the country and left thousands dead.
According toĀ Bloomberg:
The president said that 62 aftershocks followed the quake and it’s possible that one as strong as 7.2 could strike in the next 24 hours. PeƱa Nieto also said that serious damage had been caused and that one million [residents] initially had been without power following the quake, but that electricity had been restored to 800,000 of them.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves of one meter (3.3 feet) above the tide level were measured off Salina Cruz, Mexico. Smaller tsunami waves were observed on the coast or measured by ocean gauges in several other places. The center’s forecast said Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala could see waves of a meter or less. No threat was posed to Hawaii and the western and South Pacific.
The earthquake was sufficiently powerful to rock Mexico Cityā450 miles northwest from the epicenterāsetting off alarms, toppling walls, and shattering windows. At least 26 people have reportedly been killed, but authorities say that number could rise.
The USGS pager systemĀ declaredĀ a red alert after the earthquake struck: “High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response.”
In a series of tweets following the quake, President NietoĀ expressedĀ condolences to the families that lost loved ones and announced that schools would be closed for the day to assess the damage.
Videos on social media documented some of the effects of the quake across the country and the chaos that resulted:
#Temblor | De esta forma se viviĆ³ el sĆsmo en oficinas del Centro Historico de la Ciudad de MĆ©xico pic.twitter.com/1gBXq4Aq70
ā El Big Data MX (@ElBigDataMx) September 8, 2017