2018 Oaxaca earthquake facts for kids
Shake map
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| UTC time | 2018-02-16 23:39:39 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 611835996 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | February 16, 2018 |
| Local time | 17:39 |
| Magnitude | 7.2 Mww |
| Depth | 24.6 km (15 mi) |
| Epicenter | 16°38′46″N 97°39′11″W / 16.646°N 97.653°W |
| Type | Thrust |
| Max. intensity | VII (Very strong) |
| Casualties | 2 injured (direct) / 14 dead, 15 injured (indirect) |
On February 16, 2018, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 shook southern Mexico. The earthquake happened in the state of Oaxaca. It caused shaking that could be felt far away, even in Mexico City.
Contents
The 2018 Oaxaca Earthquake
What Happened?
The earthquake struck at 5:39 PM local time. Its center was near the town of Pinotepa Nacional in Oaxaca. The ground shook for about a minute. This was a powerful earthquake, measured at 7.2 on the Moment magnitude scale.
Why Do Earthquakes Happen?
Earthquakes happen when large pieces of the Earth's outer layer, called tectonic plates, suddenly move. These plates are always slowly moving. Sometimes, they get stuck. When they finally break free, they release a lot of energy. This energy causes the ground to shake. The 2018 Oaxaca earthquake was a "thrust" type earthquake. This means one plate was pushed up and over another.
Impact and Aftermath
While the earthquake was very strong, there were no direct deaths from the shaking itself. However, two people were injured directly. Sadly, there were indirect casualties. A military helicopter carrying officials crashed while inspecting damage. This accident resulted in 14 deaths and 15 injuries. The crash happened as the helicopter was landing in a dusty field at night.
The shaking was felt across several states in Mexico. Buildings swayed, and some older structures had cracks. People rushed out of their homes and offices for safety. Power outages also occurred in some areas. Despite the strong shaking, major damage was limited. This was partly because building codes in Mexico have improved.
See also
In Spanish: Terremoto de Oaxaca de 2018 para niños
