Very strong dangerous earthquake / aftershock in Guerrero, Mexico – NO damage or injuries reported

Last update: April 13, 2012 at 4:34 pm by By

Earthquake overview : Very strong dangerous aftershock in Guerrero Mexico with an epicenter close to the epicenter of the massive March 20 M 7.4 earthquake.
“I have Felt it” Reports –> see below + Let us know “how you have felt this earthquake”
To read the full story as it happened, we advise our readers to start at the lower part of the page (earthquake data).
With the contributions of Carlos Robles
Read also : Earthquake in Guerrero – Oaxaca, Mexico – 2 people died after Tuesday’s earthquake

Keep this page open or return regularly as we will be back with more details when they become available

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Update 13/04 – 13:32 UTC
2 serious aftershocks in Guerrero / Oaxaca, Mexico
As predicted several weeks ago, the M7.6 earthquake in Guerrero Mexico would surely lead to a lot of aftershocks including some stronger ones which will be close or greater than M6.0. What happened today (M5.4 at 10:10 UTC and M5.3 at 13:06 UTC) could be expected and will normally not cause any additional damage. Let us hope that the aftershocks will gradually winding down in strength and number.

The damaged cathedral of Asuncion de Maria at Chilpancingo

Update 03/04/2012 – 17:49 UTC :
As we are constantly monitoring the local situation, ER contributor Carlos Robles reports that yesterday’s aftershock caused light damage in Chilpancingo. The city of Chilpancingo reports damage at the cathedral of Asuncion de Maria that was damaged by the previous earthquake. Other places also suffered damage like construction zones and a mall.

Update 03/04/2012 – 16:11 UTC : 
We are happy to report that we could not find any trace of serious damage or injuries after this earthquake.
- the early alert system in Oaxaco (SASO) has gone off seconds before the tremor could be felt. At earthquake-report.com we think that this kind of early alarms is only giving a false sign of security if the epicenter is below land.  In case of a very powerful earthquake which may be damaging in a radius of 100 to 150 km, the damaging shear wave will be arriving within seconds. People might try to evacuate in the meantime leaving a far better location for an emergency pathway.  A lot of them will be located in the stairway of apartment and office blocks, being at the most vulnerable place of the building.
Is there no real advantage at an early alarm ? : oh yes, to bring elevators to an emergency stop, trains and subway  emergency stops etc. and to warn for possible tsunami waves if the epicenter is out in the sea.  People in Guerrero have the final word in this case.
We see almost continuously infringements against the safety rule number 1 : drop, cover and hold.  Click here for our in-depth article and how to behave during and after an earthquake.
- A lot of tourists have not even felt the earthquake in Acapulco
- In Tlaxcala NO damage had been reported
- In Guerrero, 12,000 houses were seriously damaged during the March 20 mainshock. 2,400 houses will have to be reconstructed completely.  The other houses are partially damaged.
- The National Fund for Natural Disasters (Fonden) will help the families in Guerrero

Pager map courtesy USGS - dark orange : severe shaking, yellow : very strong shaking

Update 23:58 UTC :  USGS has again updated the earthquake data.  The (probably) final values are M6.0 at a depth of 9.1 km. These values are far better and less dangerous than their previous calculations.  With the new data, there might be a possibility that almost no damage will be inflicted. So far NO reports of damage or injuries
- the area is hit by numerous aftershocks in the M4 to M5 range

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

Update : The mainshock, which happened at March 20 was the 4th deadly earthquake this year

Update : 27 km (17 miles) SSE (148°) from Ometepec, Guerrero, Mexico

This aftershock can further damage already damaged houses in Guerreo
Epicenter also in Ometepec
EMSC reports a Magnitude of 5.7 at a depth of 40 km (preliminary)µ
The earthquake has been felt as far as Mexico City DF
Based on our experience we expect further damage in Guerrero but no damage elsewhere in the country
We will start an in-depth article soon as USGS is reporting a magnitude of 6.3 at the very shallow depth of 12 km. Potentially very damaging

Earthquake-Report.com GOOGLE+ / Earthquake-Report.com FACEBOOK
“I Have Felt It” reports as received by Earthquake-Report.com
See below for all the received Earthquake Experience reports as received by earthquake-report.com

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

Links to important maps
USGS Did You Feel It Map
Google satellite map showing the epicenter and the surrounding area
Historic earthquakes map
Seismic hazard map
Shaking map
Focal mechanism report
Human impact map
GDACS earthquake report
I Have Felt this earthquake

SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFO
USGS Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 23:55 4.9 56 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 23:55 5.0 33 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 23:55 4.8 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 19:38 4.6 40 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 19:38 4.5 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Oaxaca, Mexico Apr 02 19:38 4.6 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:39 4.3 15 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Oaxaca, Mexico Apr 02 18:39 4.5 20 MAP I Felt It
USGS Oaxaca, Mexico Apr 02 18:39 4.5 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Off Coast Of Jalisco, Mexico Apr 02 18:28 4.7 40 MAP I Felt It
USGS Off The Coast Of Jalisco, Mexico Apr 02 18:28 4.7 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Off Coast Of Jalisco, Mexico Apr 02 18:28 4.6 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:26 4.4 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:17 4.5 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:17 4.8 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:17 4.8 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 18:07 4.4 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 17:36 6.0 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Oaxaca, Mexico Apr 02 17:36 6.0 9 MAP I Felt It
  • Mexico, DF - Pues sí se sintió levemente, no hubo muchos objetos que se movieran de su lugar.
    		•
    GEOFON Near Coast Of Guerrero, Mexico Apr 02 17:36 6.0 10 MAP I Felt It
  • yautepec mexico - I WAS ON THE PC..WHE SUDDENLY FELT THE APARTMENT MOVING SIDE TO SIDE.OBJECTS SHACKING AND THE LAMPS MOVING SIDE TO SIDE..SOME OBJECTS FELT DOWN FROM SHELLS..THERE ARE NO CRACKS..OR SEEM TO BE APPARENTLY DAMAGE TO STRUCTURE NO INJURES..ONLY A FEW WITH PANIC.
  • puebla puebla mexico - it was mild in puebla city MX
  • Acapulco - things in the trailor shaked
  • Mexico,DF - Also in Mexico City we experienced the movement.
  • Mexico DF - I felt it more than the March one but my colleagues didn't.
  • Mexico City - a very noticeable shaking cicle-motion that lasted about 30 secs. not damages in mid-area of the City.
  • Mexico City - A thump, rocking with the lamps swinging
  • Reforma DF - on the 13th floor and building swayed for about 1 minute. not as bad as March
  • Mexico City - I'm on 3rd floor in a corporate building in Mexico City (Reforma Street), it felt strong.
  • Mexico - Secousses faisant grincer le bâtiment ( 18e étage) tout le mobilier vibrait, tremblait.
  • Mexico DF - A good shake and feeling lots of aftershocks.
  • MEXICO - We are on the 4th floor of an apartment in Mexico City and felt the swaying for approximately 30 seconds
  • Mexico - I was in the bathroom washing my hands and I felt it was shaking, I thought it was only me but after that I saw the blinds swinging, doors were also moving back and forth..
  • Mexico City - I was walking around my home while the phone rang it was my sister asking me why didn't you go out of your apartment, we are having an earthquake now, I saw the lamps and they were swinging, I felt a moderate shaking, this time I didn't scared, because I hadn't notice what was happening. Thanks God nothing serious happened in Mexico city. I hope nothing serious happen in Mexico.
  • Cuernacava - I'm near Cuernavaca, it shock around 30 seconds no damage.
  • Mexico City - Foreigner living in Mexico. Not used to Earthquakes. This was my third one and I experienced it nine stories up. The sensation felt in the building was that of a boat in rough seas. The building swayed strongly.
  • Mexico City - Moderate shaking indicated
    		•

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    SHARE YOUR EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE WITH US

    Enter Email (not compulsory)
    City/Village where you felt the earthquake
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    Write your experience and/or additional text here (max. 500 characters)

    Comments

    1. Edward Lane says:
      April 4, 2012 at 3:09 pm

      People in/near Mexico might want to check out this article about a Blackberry App that is tied into the Mexico earthquake early warning system

      http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2012/04/earthquake-warnings-mexico-city

      Reply
      • Armand Vervaeck says:
        April 4, 2012 at 3:16 pm

        Thanks Edward – We want to warn people that this is ABSOLUTELY NONSENSE ! I have written why in the Guerrero article. These kind of apps are giving the people the WRONG FEELING that they have the time to get out of their buildings / houses / offices. This is the MOST DANGEROUS action somebody can do. Early warning systems are ONLY usefull in case of tsunamis who are originating out of the coast. In Japan they are used to stop trains, etc.

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