URUAPAN, Mexico – A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck early Sunday near the boundary of Colima and Michoacán states in southwestern Mexico, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Despite the tremors being felt across the region, no significant damage or casualties were reported.
The earthquake, which occurred at 2:32 a.m. local time on Sunday, January 13, 2024 , was centered 13 miles southeast of Aquila at a depth of 21 miles.
Surveillance footage from Coalcomán, a mountainous village near the epicenter, and Uruapan, Michoacán’s second-largest city, showed buildings swaying and parked cars shaking.
Residents in affected areas reported running into the streets as the tremors rattled homes.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the situation on social media platform X, confirming that emergency protocols were activated but that no further developments had been reported.
“There are no new developments,” she wrote, as emergency response teams reviewed their procedures.
The Mexican Social Security Institute also confirmed that there were no reports of damage in Mexico City, located 372 miles east of the epicenter.
Aftershocks and Measurements
As of 9 a.m. local time Sunday, Mexico’s national seismological service had recorded 329 aftershocks.
The service adjusted the quake’s magnitude to 6.1, a slight variation from the U.S. Geological Survey’s measurement, which is not unusual in preliminary assessments.
Seismic Activity in Mexico
Mexico’s geographic location makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes, as it lies at the convergence of several tectonic plates.
Over the past four decades, the country has experienced at least seven earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater.
The deadliest of these occurred in 1985, when a magnitude 8.0 earthquake devastated Mexico City, claiming around 10,000 lives.
More recently, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2017 caused widespread damage and killed over 370 people.
Preparedness and Resilience
Sunday’s earthquake serves as a reminder of the country’s vulnerability to seismic activity, but also highlights improvements in disaster preparedness and response.
Mexico has invested in seismic warning systems and stricter building codes to mitigate the impact of earthquakes.
While the tremor caused alarm, the lack of significant damage underscores the progress made in ensuring the safety of residents in a country with a history of devastating quakes.