Quake Rattles Southern Mexico

A strong earthquake rattled southern Mexico late Thursday. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS,) the epicenter of the 6.1 magnitude quake was located about 25 miles WSW of Tuxla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, Mexico, near Mexico's southern border with Guatemala.

Late Thursday, emergency personnel scrambled to check for damage near the epicenter. The patrol risks not only from additional quakes, but also from guerilla patrols still roaming the area since a 1994 Zapatista uprising. The epicenter was situated near the border of Chiapa and neighboring Oaxaca states.

Dinnertime Quake Sends People Into Streets

Early reports said the earthquake sent thousands fleeing into the streets in response to the trembling ground. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, though one news source said electricity and phone service in the region were out for ten minutes in the aftermath of the quake.

The earthquake was recorded at 8:09pm local time, at a depth of approximately 6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles.) It was felt as far away as Mexico City, 980 kilometers (430 miels) away, where rattling buildings sent residents into the street in fear.

Region Claims Mayan Ancestry and Bloody Uprising

Chiapas houses a population of approximately 4.3 million, of which just under 450,000 live in the capital city of Tuxla Gutierrez. Many residents of Tuxla Gutierrez claim native Mayan descent. The region is known for its coffee crop and for the bloody Zapatista guerilla assaults.

Powerful Heritage

Mexico was the site of the largest North American earthquake in modern times, an 8.1 temblor that devastated Mexico City in 1985. 9000 people died in the quake and another 30,000 were injured. 100,000 were left homeless due to the destruction of the massive quake, which damaged or destroyed close to 3500 homes and buildings.

Since 1900, Mexico has reported dozens of quakes of 6.5 or higher magnitude. Thursday's 6.1 earthquake, measuring 6.1, is considered a major quake for its capacity to cause damage and/or injury. The magnitude was based on the Moment Magnitude scale, rather than the more well-known (and no longer used) Richter scale. The Moment Magnitude yardstick bases calculations on the area of the rupturing fault and the energy released in the quake. The scientific community abandoned the Richter measurement because at the upper end of its scale it lost differentiation.

The strongest recorded quake was a 9.6 temblor that struck Chile in 1960. The upper end of earthquakes are established by the size of available faultlines.