Panic Among People Following Strong Earthquake in Southern and Central Mexico

Less than five months after an earthquake that left hundreds dead in Mexico, the center and south of the country experienced another strong earthquake measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale on Friday, February 16. About an hour later, an aftershock measuring 5.9 was felt in Mexico. According to AFP, citing local media, this severe earthquake did not leave any casualties and no buildings collapsed. However, the experience of severe earthquakes in September of this year caused panic and concern among the people of Mexico, and government officials announced the reopening of emergency shelters. In late September, an earthquake measuring 7.1 struck central Mexico, leaving nearly 250 dead and two thousand injured. The latest casualty figures from that earthquake were reported to be 465. The September earthquake occurred on the anniversary of the massive earthquake in 1985, which killed thousands and whose memory is still alive in Mexico. The earthquake preparedness drill held every year on September 19 took place just hours before this earthquake. Less than two weeks prior, an 8.2 magnitude earthquake in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas left 96 dead. The experience of these two earthquakes and the intensity of the recent earthquake, which was felt in three other states of Mexico, drove terrified people into the streets. On Friday, two cities near the epicenter of the recent earthquake in the southern state of Oaxaca reported damage to several buildings. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the depth of this earthquake to be about 25 kilometers below the surface. Relevant authorities in Mexico immediately inspected buildings in the states where the earthquake was felt, especially those that had been damaged in the September earthquake and were at risk of collapse. Following the earthquake on Friday, the President of Mexico tweeted that due to the severity of this earthquake, the National Emergency Committee of the country was immediately activated. In this context, '40 percent' of the earthquake victims still do not have temporary shelters.