1999 Oaxaca earthquake explained

The 1999 Oaxaca earthquake occurred on September 30 at 11:31 local time (16:31 UTC) in Oaxaca, Mexico, 60 km NNW of Puerto Ángel.^[1] The epicenter was located near San Agustin Loxicha.^[2] It had a magnitude of 7.4.^[3]

Earthquake

This was an intraplate earthquake in the Cocos plate, with a normal-faulting mechanism. The fault plane was 90 km long and 45 km wide. The maximum slip was about 2.5 m, which was located about 20 and 40 km WNW of the hypocenter.^[4] The maximum intensity reached MM VIII in southwestern Oaxaca, and could be felt strongly in Mexico City.^[5]

Impact

The torrential rains and flooding preceding and following the temblor intensified the damage of this earthquake. Thirty-five people were reported dead.^[6] The archeological site of the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban also suffered damage in this earthquake.^[7]

See also

• List of earthquakes in 1999
• List of earthquakes in Mexico
• 1999 Tehuacán earthquake

Notes and References

1. Web site: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Earthquake Report: OAXACA, MEXICO . United States Geological Survey . October 22, 2011 . October 21, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111021023752/http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/eq_depot/1999/eq_990930/ . dead .
2. Web site: The Mexico Earthquake, September 30, 1999 . Mceer.buffalo.edu . September 30, 1999 . October 22, 2011 . March 31, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120331182549/http://mceer.buffalo.edu/outreach/archives/1999/99-0930-mex93099.asp . dead .
3. Web site: Significant Earthquakes of the World . United States Geological Survey . October 22, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111125233514/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/significant/sig_1999.php . November 25, 2011 .
4. Web site: Archived copy . August 28, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100202075738/http://www-lgit.obs.ujf-grenoble.fr/~fcotton/papersfabrice/papierbruno2001.pdf . February 2, 2010 . dead .
5. Web site: CNN Earthquake jolts Mexico City – September 30, 1999 . CNN . October 22, 2011.
6. Web site: Archived copy . proteccioncivil.gob.mx . January 14, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080414153444/http://www.proteccioncivil.gob.mx/upLoad/Publicaciones/ised_80_89.pdf . April 14, 2008 . dead.
7. Web site: Quake Damaged Pre-hispanic Ruins, Archeological Sites. Chicago Tribune . October 3, 1999 . October 22, 2011.