M 8.1 Earthquake - September 1985, Mexico
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On 19 September 1985 a Richter magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck Mexico City at 7:18 am, with most damage concentrated in the north, central and eastern parts of the city1. The damage and loss of life recorded in Mexico City were mainly as a result of population increase, the development of high rise buildings in the area and the liquefaction of the ground at the downtown area2. Many of the high rise buildings twisted and collapsed in the quake due to the unusual flexibility of Mexico City structures3.
The earthquake also triggered a 2.5 m tsunami.
1 Quarantelli, E.L. 1993. Organisational Response to the Mexico City Earthquake of 1985: Characteristics and Implications. Natural Hazards. Vol. 8, pp 19-38
2 Castanos, H & Lomnitz, C.1995. Unplanned and Unforeseen Effects of Instabilities in the Nature-Society System as Possible Causes of Earthquake Disasters. Natural Disasters. Vol. 11, pp 45-56
3 John A. Martin & Associates, Inc. 2006. The 1985 Mexico City Earthquake.
http://www.johnmartin.com/earthquakes/eqshow/index.htm
Event overview table
| No. Deaths | 10,000 |
| No. Injured | 14,000 |
| No. Affected | |
| Houses destroyed | 371 |
| Houses damaged | 100,000 |
| Other damage | - Schools |
| Economic cost | $2,147,483,647 |