7.1 Earthquake Hits Mexico City

[Kathianne]

Just breaking:

https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000ar20#executive

https://twitter.com/AP?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5 Eauthor

[jimnyc]

Yikes! To add...

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Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes Mexico City

A powerful earthquake jolted Mexico City on Tuesday, causing buildings to sway sickeningly on the anniversary of a 1985 quake that did major damage to the capital.

The extent of damage and injuries was not immediately clear, but people fled office buildings along the central Reforma Avenue.

Mexico's seismological agency calculated its preliminary magnitude at 6.8 and said its center was east of the city in the state of Puebla. The U.S. Geological Survey set the magnitude at 7.1.

Pictures fell from walls and objects were shaken off of flat surfaces. Some people dove for cover under desks.

Earlier in the day buildings across the city held preparation drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake.

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-earthquake-20170919-story.html

[Kathianne]

In general I think Mexico City has pretty good building codes, not sure of other areas though that are likely impacted.

[jimnyc]

In general I think Mexico City has pretty good building codes, not sure of other areas though that are likely impacted.

7 is pretty big though, no? I'm no earthquake expert! I also don't know squat about Mexico City and/or how big their city is and how tall their structures are and what not.

[Kathianne]

7 is pretty big though, no? I'm no earthquake expert! I also don't know squat about Mexico City and/or how big their city is and how tall their structures are and what not.

It is a big one, though if codes are good, not likely to take down building.

http://www.debatepolicy.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=10864&stc=1

[Kathianne]

Not looking good. Seems the epicenter was around 75 miles southeast from Mexico City. In the city proper it seems mostly facades are falling, though that certainly can kill. There are building collapses too:

http://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-mexico-earthquake-20170919-story.html

Weird about it being on the anniversary of 8.1 quake in Mexico City:


...

Earlier in the day workplaces across the city held preparation drills on the anniversary of the 1985 quake, a magnitude 8.1 temblor, which killed thousands of people and devastated large parts of Mexico City.


Much of Mexico City is built on former lakebed, and the soil is known to amplify the effects of earthquakes even hundreds of miles away.

...

[pete311]

It is a big one, though if codes are good, not likely to take down building.



Do you have a citation for this? How do you know? Are you a building engineer?

[Kathianne]

Do you have a citation for this? How do you know? Are you a building engineer?
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1410554614185-e0da148255b25cd17a5510a80b0d9f48/Building_Code_Fact_Sheet_Revised_August_2014.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/18/mexico-city-earthquake-30-years-lessons

[pete311]

https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1410554614185-e0da148255b25cd17a5510a80b0d9f48/Building_Code_Fact_Sheet_Revised_August_2014.pdf

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/sep/18/mexico-city-earthquake-30-years-lessons

In your source it mentions outside the city center and tourist areas, codes are not enforced.

[Kathianne]

In your source it mentions outside the city center and tourist areas, codes are not enforced.

Yeah, while not pretending to speak with authority, those would be the references to the later post regarding the epicenter being about 75 miles outside of Mexico City. Also pertains to the buildings that existed prior to 1985.

I do not try to play an expert, in any field.

Nearly always have a link or two, if not it's pretty clear that it's my opinion, often use, IMO.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Hope this quake isn't that big volcano down there waking up, or millions of people are in deep do-do.

Yeah 7.1 is a big quake. Before I left Reno they were having "swarms" of small quakes. Most 3.0 or smaller you don't feel, but they got bigger and finally we had a 5.4 followed almost immediately by a 5.7, and I'm not afraid to admit it scared the shit otta me. It started out with a bang like a bomb had gone off. I had to hit the floor in my apartment and hold my big screen tv and stereo component stand from tipping over. Dishes were rattling in the cupboards, books fell off the book shelf, lights were swinging from side to side, cat jumped under the kitchen table, lasted about 20 seconds. I moved 9 days later. I'd had enough. The ground is NOT supposed to MOVE. I'd rather take my chances in a tornado or hurricane.