Southern Mexico awoke to the tremors of a substantial 6.5 magnitude earthquake in the south today, as confirmed by the National Seismological Service (SSN). The telluric event occurred in the early hours of this Friday, with its epicenter pinpointed at approximately 140 kilometers southeast of Pijijiapan, Chiapas.
The seismic activity was initiated at 03:29 am and caused palpable tremors across several states. Residents from Chiapas to Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco, and the State of Mexico reported feeling the ground shake, according to user reports on SkyAlert.
Despite the significant magnitude, the SASMEX system refrained from triggering the seismic alert. The decision was made due to the earthquake’s initial radiated energy not surpassing the system’s predefined activation levels.
The earthquake’s aftermath, often a critical period, has so far seen 26 aftershocks recorded by 06:00 am. The most intense of these tremors was measured at a magnitude of 4.2, occurring just minutes after the main quake.
Aftershocks, as the SSN explains, are a common occurrence following an earthquake of considerable magnitude. The rocks around the rupture zone undergo rearrangement, causing a series of smaller, albeit still noticeable, tremors. These seismic events can happen within minutes, days, and in some cases, even years after the primary earthquake. The frequency of such aftershocks can vary significantly, ranging from a few occurrences to hundreds of events.
