08/25/2022 - 11:59 hrs.

Earthquakes? Mexico’s to-do list for earthquakes

Did you know that in 2021 there were over than 29 thousand earthquakes in Mexico*?

Don’t worry! Mexico is located in a seismic region composed by five tectonic plates. Therefore, Mexican authorities and citizens have created a prevention culture and security protocols before, during and after a low or higher magnitude earthquake. Let’s have a look to those protocols:

Mexican Seismic Alert System

Seismic Alerts in Mexico City’s and some other Mexican States’ streets are identifiable like this:

These alerts emit the following sound one minute before the earthquake starts, giving us time to reach the safe zones.

Don’t run, don’t panic, keep calm and pay attention to the brigade civil protection members as there are attention protocols for earthquakes everywhere.

In the following images you will find detailed information on the operation and objective of the Seismic Alert.

What to do in the event of earthquakes?

Remember that it is impossible to predict when an earthquake will occur. Even so, we know an earthquake may occur at any moment, day, or time, regardless of the weather or any other factor. For those reasons, we must be prepared in advance to take basic measures to know how to act.

Wherever you are when an earthquake starts, take shelter immediately. Move to an open and safe nearby place. If necessary, stay where you are until the movement stops (DGACO, 2022). For specific and detailed recommendations on what to do if you are indoors, outdoors, public transportation, the subway, in a moving vehicle, and other scenarios, the General Office for Community Assistance (DGACO) made available the following guide:“¿Qué hacer en caso de sismos?”

Drills

Drills have taken part of Mexican preventive measures to mitigate or reduce the effects of an earthquake, since earthquakes are constant in Mexico.

In the following infographics you will find recommendations on civil protection to know what to do before, during and after the simulation of real scenarios.

There is no technique to predict earthquakes, neither countries such as the United States or Japan, whose technology is very advanced, have been able to develop a predictive technique for earthquakes. Given that Mexico is a country with great seismic activity, the only certainty we have is that earthquakes are usual and we must be prepared. The key before any seismic event is prevention.

We invite you to prevent, stay informed and actively participate in tasks by UNAM’s Civil Protection or wherever you are, as well as the instructions of those responsible for security of the academic institution where you perform your mobility.

Fun Facts:
The department in charge of providing timely information on the occurrence, magnitude and origin of earthquakes in Mexico is the National Seismological Service, which belongs to our University. In addition, all its records are public, and they can be consulted on its web page every minute at: http://www.ssn.unam.mx/

UNAM has expert departments on prevention protocols inside and outside the University such as:

SOURCES:
* Statistics of the earthquakes reported by the SSN UNAM http://www.ssn.unam.mx/sismicidad/estadisticas/
https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2020/06/23/por-que-tiembla-tanto-en-mexico/
https://www.gob.mx/cenapred/articulos/sismos-en-mexico-prepararnos-es-nuestra-responsabilidad
https://www.tucomunidad.unam.mx/pdf/Sismos.pdf