MEXICO
Mexico City is the capital city of Mexico placed in North America.
Mexico has always been a country plagued by earthquakes, some more severe than others. We found information covering every notable earthquake felt or with its epicenter within Mexico's current borders and maritime areas showing approximately 70 different earthquakes from 1776 and to present time.
Some of the more severe in recent time was in 1906, 1932, 1952, 1985, 1995 and NOW 2017! (source)
What happened?
On September 8 an earthquake hit with a 8.1-magnitude with an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean. In September 19 another earthquake hit with a 7.1-magnitude with an epicenter really close to in Mexico City and 650 kilometers away from the first one.
Eventhough it seems unsual to get two major earthquakes within this short span of time in the same country - it is not! Both earthquakes are a result of the rupture of fault lines within the North American tectonic plate. When fault lines rupture they can induce further ruptures as a chain effect in other parts of the same fault or nearby fault lines. (source)
Casualities
The overall death toll was offically raised to a devistating number og 369 people, when the last body know was recovered on october 4 2017. The Mayor, Miguel Angel Mancera, told that there were no more missing persons and all bodies had been identified. (source)
THE EARTHQUAKES OF
Map of earthquakes in Mexico from 1990 to 2017
The country is in a region where a number of tectonic plates butt up against one another, with huge amounts of energy waiting to be unleashed. (source)
The Mexican capital is especially at risk of major earthquakes because of its location.
"The downtown of Mexico City is notoriously vulnerable to earthquakes because of the very soft and wet ground underneath. Its soil amplifies shaking like Jell-O on a plate, and is prone to liquefaction, which is the ability to transform dirt into a dense liquid when sufficiently churned. (source)
The earthquake of September 19 struck on the anniversary of a 1985 Mexico quake that killed nearly 10,000 people. However, the date is just an unfortunate coincidence - because unlike hurricanes and other disasters, earthquakes can, unlike hurricanes and other disasters, strike at any time without warning. (source)
What now?
Mexico City is trying to rebuild after the earthquake, but it evolves slowly because of the limited sources and manpower.
Therefor a lot of people are still living on the streets without a roof, without food, without medicine, without family - and they need our help!
