7.6 magnitude: Powerful earthquake strikes Mexico

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Mexico, approximately 37km southeast of Aquila, Mexico at 1:05pm local time on September 19th 2022.

Residents reported losing power and communications after the very strong quake struck. Many had just wrapped up an earthquake drill nearby in Puerto Vallarta 30 minutes prior. A tsunami alert has been issued for Pacific coasts within 480km of the epicentre.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), this earthquake is estimated to have caused between 10 and 100 fatalities and £9 – 90 million in damages.

People as far away as Colima and Manzanillo, Mexico, felt a strong intensity of the earthquake which can cause even light damage that far away – less than 115km.

For Mexico, this is the third September 19th earthquake and the second strongest earthquake on this date. The details of the two previous are below.

Many who were affected by this most recent earthquake, including rescuers, were attending vigils held in honour of those who died in the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes.