A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Mexico

(CNN Spanish) — A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico on Monday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The epicenter was located at a depth of 10 kilometers and the epicenter was located 42 kilometers north-northwest of La Placita de Morelos, Michoacán.

The earthquake was also felt strongly in Mexico City. National Seismic of Mexico 7.7 recorded on the Richter scale. The USGS initially recorded the move at 7.5.

Earthquake damage

The Mexican government released a damage report on Monday’s earthquake. The report indicates that one person died of tremor-related conditions in Kolyma state and another person was injured in Michoane. In addition, there was structural damage to homes and failures in electrical service in Colima.

According to the government, the earthquake had more than 200 aftershocks and was felt by about 48 million people in the country.

On the other hand, the Secretary of the Navy issued two tsunami warning bulletins, but Civil Defense said that “no significant rise in sea level is expected”.

“Currently, detailed assessments of structural conditions in houses, buildings and infrastructure are carried out by engineers and technical teams of the most affected companies: Michoacán and Kolyma. Initially, medium and severe damages are recorded without calculation”, the government text describes.

According to information from the Federal Electricity Commission, “2 million customers were affected, although service was 90% restored before 3:00 p.m. local time.

On the other hand, the report indicates that at least two hospitals in the state of Michoacán suffered structural damage. According to the government, several federal agencies are conducting tours in areas near the epicenter of the earthquake, Kolkoman.

“The National Emergency Committee declared itself in permanent session to monitor seismic activity in the region and assess the damage and needs in the affected areas,” the report concludes.

September 19, a sad date

The anniversary of the two earthquakes that hit Mexico City and elsewhere in 1985 and 2017.

Earlier this Monday there was a national earthquake drill, in which a seismic alert was activated in the nation’s capital, just as part of the exercise. And then there was the same movement that happened in 2017.

The reaction of the authorities after the earthquake

In 2017, morelos, Puebla, Mexico City, Mexico State, Guerrero and Oaxaca felt the quake shortly after noon. A magnitude of 7.1 degrees. This was after another earthquake of magnitude 8.1 was recorded on September 7, the same month. Also in 1985, one of the most destructive earthquakes occurred in Mexico, killing about 10,000 people.

Claudia Sheinbaum, head of the Mexico City government, said on her Twitter account that there was no damage so far in the country’s capital and that five condors had flown through the city’s streets. For his part, Mexico City’s Secretary of Civil Protection, Omar García Harfuch, said there had been “no related damage” so far.

There are currently no reports of damages or related news. We will continue to report from @C5_CDMX with a cabinet headed by @ClaudiaShane

— Omar Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) September 19, 2022

Later, at a press conference, Sheinbaum said they were making a report from a drill that took place almost an hour earlier in memory of the tragic earthquakes of 1985 and 2017: “We were doing the report a few minutes before the earthquake drill. The alarm sounded,” said the head of the Mexico City government.

“I was able to speak to the President. We call you right away. There is no major damage in the city, we will inform later if there is major material damage,” he said.

“It’s a tough situation because we already know that we’ve had tough earthquakes and an earthquake on this day, obviously people are scared,” Scheinbaum added.

The impact and shock from previous tremors in the country leave residents nervous as alarms go off. Civil protection workers stationed in Mexico City’s main square treated at least 50 people who showed signs of nervous breakdown after Monday’s quake, local media told Milenio TV.

Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, gave the opening statement of the national seismic survey from the courtyard of the National Palace: “We wish with all our hearts that nothing serious has happened.”

The President has uploaded several videos on his social networks as reports have been received by authorities across the country. I know contacted With the governor of Michoacán, Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla, informed him of the state’s situation. “There are reports of material damage only in Colcoman and nearby areas where the earthquake hit,” Lopez Obrador said. The president also contacted the head of the Mexico City government, where there was “no major damage.”

First earthquake report pic.twitter.com/tanl3ILVZV

– Andres Manuel (@lopezobrador_) September 19, 2022

The government of Michoacán said on its Twitter account that emergency protocols were implemented after the 7.5-magnitude earthquake, whose epicenter was located 42 kilometers north-northwest of La Placita de Morelos, Michoacán, according to the USGS. “We ask for calm,” the government wrote.

⚠️ | Emergency protocols were implemented in Michoacán due to the earthquake that was reported this afternoon. @pcmichoacan Stay alert.

We request you to remain calm.

— Government of Michoacan (@GobMichoacan) September 19, 2022

The governor of Oaxaca, Alejandro Murat, said on his Twitter account that civil defense protocols have been implemented and so far, there has been no damage in the state. “#Earthquake sensed and alarm activated in #Oaxaca, we continue to implement @CEPCO_GobOax civil protection protocols,” Murat wrote.

perceived #earthquake and the alarm is activated #Oaxaca We enforce civil defense protocols @CEPCO_GobOax. They say that there is no damage at present.

– Alejandro Murat (@alejandromurat) September 19, 2022

With information from Abel Alvarado, Rocío Muñoz-Ledo and Sebastian Jiménez