1985 Mexico City earthquake

The 1985 Mexico City earthquake struck in the early morning of 19 September at 07:17:50 (CST) with a moment magnitude of 8.0 and a maximal Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent). The event caused serious damage to the Greater Mexico City area and the deaths of at least 5,000 people. The sequence of events included a foreshock of magnitude 5.2 that occurred the prior May, the main shock on 19 September, and two large aftershocks. The first of these occurred on 20 September with a magnitude of 7.5 and the second occurred seven months later on 30 April 1986 with a magnitude of 7.0. They were located off the coast along the Middle America Trench, more than 350 kilometres (220 mi) away, but the city suffered major damage due to its large magnitude and the ancient lake bed on which Mexico City sits. The event caused between three and five billion USD in damage as 412 buildings collapsed and another 3,124 were seriously damaged in the city.

1985 Mexico City earthquake
Mexico City – Collapsed Hospital Juárez de México
UTC time1985-09-19 13:17:50
ISC event516095
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date19 September 1985 (1985-09-19)
Local time07:17:50
Duration3−4 minutes
Magnitude8.0 Mw
Depth20 km (12 mi)
Epicenter18.35°N 102.39°W / 18.35; -102.39
Areas affectedMexico
Total damage$5 billion (1985 USD)
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)
TsunamiUp to 3 m (9.8 ft)
Aftershocks7.5 Mw 20 September 1985
7.0 Mw 30 April 1986
Casualties5,000–45,000 dead
30,000 injured

Then-president Miguel de la Madrid and the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) were widely criticized for what was perceived as an inefficient response to the emergency, including an initial refusal of foreign aid.

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