Extremely dangerous M8.1 earthquake hits Mexico, tsunami generated

A major earthquake registered by the USGS as 8.1 (upgraded from M8.0) hit near the coast of Chiapas, Mexico at 04:49 UTC on September 8, 2017 (23:49 local time, September 7). The agency is reporting a depth of 69.7 km (43.3 miles). A red alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses was issued. High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response.

The epicenter was located 82.2 km (51.0 miles) SW of El Palmarcito (population 1 135), 97.0 km (60.3 miles) SW of Pijijiapan (population 15 101), and  107.2 km (66.6 miles) WSW of Mapastepec (population 16 082), Mexico.

There are about 72 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).

Some 23 000 people are estimated to have felt violent shaking, 579 000 severe, 2 144 000 very strong, 6 679 000 strong and 19 460 000 moderate.

Based on all available data, hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts, PTWC said.

Tsunami waves reaching more than 3 m (9.9 feet) above the tide level are possible along some coasts of Mexico.

Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 m (1 to 3.3 feet) above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Cook Islands, Ecuador, French Polynesia, Guatemala and Kiribati.

Tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 m (1 feet) above the tide level for the coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Hawaii, Honduras, Jarvis Island, Nicaragua, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Palmyra Island, Panama and Peru.

A red alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses was issued. High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response.

Estimated economic losses are 0-1% GDP of Mexico.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and mud wall construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as tsunamis and landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Updates

September 11

07:09 UTC

The death toll stands at 91.

There are now 621 people reported injured and 70 291 displaced. 49 910 buildings are damaged and 2 653 destroyed.

September 10

12:05 UTC

The number of casualties has increased to 91, 71 in Mexico's Oaxaca, 15 in Chiapas and 4 in Tabaco. At least 1 person has died in San Marcos, Guatemala. 531 people are injured, 50 000 displaced, 13 962 houses are damaged, 2 326 destroyed.

Mexican President, Enrique Peña Nieto, has called 3 days of National mourning for the victims of the earthquake.

September 8

23:43 UTC:

The death toll has increased to 60 and the number of injured to 500.

2 515 buildings were damaged and 428 destroyed. Maximum tsunami height reached 175 cm (5.7 feet).

#Earthquake 8.4 in #Mexico #Terremoto Alerta Peligro en #Chiapas , primeras imágenes #PrayForMexico pic.twitter.com/Tw6Wthle01

— Ruben Romero (@rubenromeroweb) September 8, 2017

15:36 UTC

The preliminary death toll has increased to 37.

The number of aftershocks stands at 190.

According to the Earthquake-Report, Professor Max Wyss, who specializes in theoretical prognoses of injuries and fatalities revised his initial numbers after using updated seismic data. Now he reports 10 to 300 fatalities and 400 to 3 000 injured people.

14:46 UTC

Tsunami update

According to PTWC's Tsunami Message Number 13, tsunami waves reaching more than 3 m (9.8 feet) above the tide level are possible for some coasts of Mexico.

Tsunami waves reaching 0.3 to 1 m (1 – 3.3 feet) above the tide level are possible for some coasts of American Samoa, Antarctica, Cook Islands, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guatemala, Kiribati, New Zealand, Samoa, Tokelau, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Fortuna.

Tsunami waves are forecast to be less than 0.3 m (1 feet) above the tide level for the coasts of Australia, Chile, China, Chuuk, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guam, Hawaii, Honduras, Howland and Baker, Indonesia, Japan, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kermadec Islands, Kosrae, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Midway Island, Nauru, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Niue, Northern Marianas, Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, Palau, Palmyra Island, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Pohnpei, Russia, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Tonga, Vietnam, Wake Island and Yap.

11:17 UTC

The preliminary death toll stands at 16. There are at least 1 000 damaged buildings and 100 destroyed, according to Earthquake Impact Database. The tsunami reached a maximum height of 101 cm (3.3 feet).

USGS registered a total of 20 aftershocks by 09:12 UTC.

In Guatemala, at least 24 houses were destroyed and 85 people displaced.

07:34 UTC

At least 8 people have been killed.

It's 02:34 in the Mexico now and many people are in the streets because they fear aftershocks. 

USGS registered 9 aftershocks by 06:26 UTC with magnitudes ranging from 4.3 to 5.7.

Numerous buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

Agua de retira de las costas de Chiapas por alerta de Tsunami pic.twitter.com/QiJoLFelaa

— El Poder.TV (@elpoder_tv) September 8, 2017

Reportes de daños materiales considerables en Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas pic.twitter.com/bBIKwS2Jn0

— El Poder.TV (@elpoder_tv) September 8, 2017

Reportan daños graves y personas atrapadas en el municipio de Juchitán, Oaxaca pic.twitter.com/sE8QYHc9Y1

— El Poder.TV (@elpoder_tv) September 8, 2017

Featured image credit: USGS

If you value what we do here, create your ad-free account and support our journalism.