Very strong dangerous earthquake / aftershock in Guerrero, Mexico – severe shaking for 17,000 people
Last update: April 2, 2012 at 8:33 pm by By Armand Vervaeck and James Daniell
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 6.3
UTC Time : Monday, April 02, 2012 at 17:36:43 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Monday, April 02, 2012 at 12:36:43 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 12 km
Geo-location(s) :
27 km (17 miles) SSE (148°) from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico
Update 20:28 UTC : The authorities in Puebla, one of the major Mexican cities and approx. 250 km from the epicenter, have reported NO injures or damage. Good news which we expected at this distance.
Earthquake-report.com calls an area with a radius of about 35 km around the epicenter at high risk for additional damage (to the already damaged houses during the March 20 mainshock).
Update 19:44 UTC : USGS has increased his intensity mapping prediction. The new estimate mention 17,000 people having felt a severe MMI VIII shaking (damaging environment), 180,000 people a VII MMI very strong shaking.
The new values are bad news and will make this aftershock almost certain a damaging one.
Until now we have No details yet on damage and injuries. As said earlier it will take another 2 to 6 hours to have see first serious assessments of the epicenter area
Update 19:42 UTC : Intensity report in the most important cities in the greater epicenter area :
VII Cuajinicuilapa 9,000 people
VII San Juan Cacahuatepec 4,000 people
VII Ometepec 18,000 people
VII San Pedro Amuzgos 4,000 people
VI San Pedro Jicayan 4,000 people
VI Santiago Pinotepa Nacional 26,000 people
MMI VII : very strong shaking
MMI VI : strong shaking
Update 19:16 UTC : Mexican authorities are reporting the strongest shaking in the Costa Chica region. Until now, we have no reports of damage, but we are almost sure that they will appear in 4 to 8 hours.
Update 18:38 UTC : Helicopters were dispatched 5 MINUTES after the earthquake. The only damage seen was a billboard that fall causing NO injuries. (we are confirming the very swift reaction of the authorities in DF)
Update : The Mexican seismological agency has increased his initial Magnitude to 6.0. Since the mainshock today, 2 aftershocks of resp. 4.6 and 4.7 have been listed (normal)
Update : Read also the many felt reports at the bottom of this page
Update 18:29 UTC : Last time, damage was only reported after several hours or even a couple of days in the epicenter area (one of the poorest areas in Mexico). Most houses are made from brick or in adobe in the greater epicenter area.
Update:
– Security secretary of Mexico City reports that there is NO damage.
– Communications are still working.
– Subway is still working.
Such reports are mostly based on the capital Mexico City or DF.
Update : Intermediate report from Carlos Robles : Servicio Sismologico Nacional is upgrading the earthquake to 6.0. Saldo blanco (no deaths) is reported. There aren’t reports of damage.
Update 18:23 UTC : There are NO Nuclear plants or Hydrodams in the greater epicenter area
Update : EMSC (Seismology Europe) reports now a magnitude of 6.1 at a depth of 10 km
Update 18:18 UTC : NO tsunami danger as the epicenter of the earthquake is below the Mexican mainland
Update : Evacuation were held at Mexico city.It was felt strong in some parts of Mexico city.In Coyoacan there are only reports of scared people. (source : Carlos Robles)
I Have Felt It map courtesy USGS – blue lighter, yellow strong shaking
Update : USGS predicts a very strong shaking for 3,000 people in the epicentral area. 164,000 people will have experienced a strong MMI VI shaking and 289,000 people a moderate shaking. As this earthquake is also felt in DF, the earthquake will have been noticed by millions of people.
Update : As this is an aftershock from the March 20 M 7.4 earthquake, these aftershocks, even at the current magnitude are very normal !
Update : The president of DF is flying by helicopter over DF areas to overview the situation. He reports that so far no serious damage can be seen from the air
Update : The Mexican media including the local seismological agency are not reachable because of too many connections
for more information and updates, go to: http://earthquake-report.com/2012/04/02/very-strong-dangerous-earthquake-aftershock-in-guerrero-mexico/