A 4.1 magnitude earthquake was reported, located 76 km southwest of Las Choapas, Veracruz at 09:10 hours, with a latitude of 17.29, longitude -94.40 and depth of 153 km.
At the moment, the National Seismological Service (SSN) has not registered any earthquake, the last one being the earthquake that occurred 6 km southwest of San José del Cabo, Baja California Sur, at 16:54 hours.
The SSN is the institution in charge of recording, monitoring and studying seismic activity in Mexico. Founded in 1910, it operates under the coordination of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Its network of seismological stations distributed throughout the country allows the detection of earthquakes in real time and provides key information for public safety, scientific research and the generation of preventive alerts.
The SSN issues reports on the magnitude, location and depth of earthquakes, essential data for assessing risks and designing civil protection strategies in a region of high tectonic activity.
Why does Mexico tremble so much?
Mexico is one of the most seismic countries in the world due to its geographic location. The territory is located at the limit of five main tectonic plates: the North American Plate, the Pacific Plate, the Cocos Plate, the Rivera Plate and the Caribbean Plate. These plates constantly interact, generating an accumulation of energy that, when released, causes earthquakes.
One of the main reasons for the high seismic activity in Mexico is the subduction of the Cocos Plate under the North American Plate, a phenomenon that occurs on the Pacific coast, from the state of Jalisco to Chiapas. In this region, known as the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a large part of the country’s earthquakes are recorded, especially in the so-called “Neovolcanic Axis.” In addition, the collision of the plates generates activity in other areas of the territory, such as Guerrero, Oaxaca and Michoacán.
Another key factor is the Transversal Neovolcanic Axis, a tectonic belt where seismic activity is frequent. Likewise, Mexico is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region that concentrates 75% of the planet’s active volcanoes and around 90% of the earthquakes worldwide.
Earthquakes in Mexico vary in intensity and frequency, but some, such as the 1985 earthquake or the 2017 earthquake, have had devastating effects. The most affected areas are usually those with soft soils, such as the Valley of Mexico, where Mexico City is located. This is due to the amplification of seismic waves caused by the clay deposits of the ancient lake that occupied that region.
Understanding these dynamics has allowed the development of seismic alert systems and construction regulations to mitigate risks in one of the countries with the greatest tectonic activity in the world.
Source: infobae
