Powerful 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Mexico During Deadly Quake Anniversary: At Least One Dead

A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico's central Pacific coast on Monday, September 19.

It killed at least one person and prompted local authorities to issue a mandatory evacuation for Mexico City, the capital of the Central American country.

The powerful tremor occurred while the nation was observing the anniversaries of two previous deadly quakes, which left a total of thousands of people dead.

Monday's strong quake occurred shortly after 1 p.m. local time near the western coast of Michoacan.

Initial reports indicated that at least one person was injured and several buildings were damaged from the impact.

The seismic event was felt in the Mexican capital soon after a drill took place to commemorate the two catastrophic earthquakes that transpired on the same date in 1985 and 2017.

The western coast of Mexico is situated along the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire," a horse shoe-shaped region at the edge of the Pacific Ocean were volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are frequent.

This is due to active tectonic plates within the zone, resulting in dynamic seismic activities and recurring tremors.

With this, earthquakes are common in Mexico each year, ranging from moderate to destructive.

Mexico 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake

Aside from casualties, the magnitude 7.6 quake knocked out power lines and forced residents to flee outdoor for safety, according to the Mexican government, as cited by Reuters.

The fatality was recorded in the Pacific port of Manzanillo when a roof of a department store collapsed.

Meanwhile, the reportedly injury was a result of a falling glass from one of the hospitals, which were damaged near the epicenter in Michoacan.

The quake's epicenter was recorded near the Michoacan border near the state of Colima, and it occurred at a depth of 15 kilometers (9 miles), which amplified its impact, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Post-Earthquake Tsunami Warning

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning along the Mexican coastline, warning that waves reaching between one to three meters (three to nine feet) above tide level cannot be ruled out.

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) said there was no scientific explanation for the three major earthquakes that struck the country on the same date, attributing it to coincidence, as cited by Reuters.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke with Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramirez Bedolla.

During their conversation, the governor assured there were only reports of material damage in the region, as cited by BBC.

Meanwhile, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum tweeted there were no reports of damage in the capital but mentioned that there were some areas that experience power outages after the seismic event, as cited by AccuWeather.

The Cursed Anniversary

Various sources indicated that September 19 is a "cursed anniversary" since the three major quakes occurred in singularity, even if their span are 32 years and five years.

In 1985, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake on September 19 devastated Mexico and killed thousands of people.

In 2017, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake on September 19 killed around 370 people in the city of Puebla in the center of the country, destroyed over 40 buildings.