Earthquakes are a part of life in Oaxaca: Fact!
Oaxaca’s rich culture. The food. Mezcal. Oaxaca has it all! But something people rarely talk about: Earthquakes.
Oaxaca is known for having big earthquakes that can be very destructive. I’ve lived through my fair share of them here, but lucky enough to not have been in any danger.
Strangely, most of the damaging ones seem to happen around September.
Why are Earthquakes so common in Oaxaca?
Now I’m no seismologist, but basically, earthquakes are common in Oaxaca because it sits where three tectonic plates meet: the Cocos, North American, and Caribbean plates. The Cocos Plate pushes under the North American Plate, causing frequent movement underground. This makes Oaxaca a bit of a hotspot for earthquakes 🫨
There was a total of 7,263 earthquakes registered in Oaxaca in 2024 alone. In reality, you would only feel a handful of them, but it shows there’s a serious amount of tectonic activity here.
How Oaxaca’s Earthquake Alarm System Works
Oaxaca uses the SASMEX (Sistema de Alerta Sísmica Mexicano), an early warning system for earthquakes. Sensors are spread across Oaxaca and other earthquake-prone states, continuously monitoring seismic activity.
This system often provides seconds to a minute of warning, which can make all the difference in finding safety before the shaking starts.
The alarm activates when an earthquake exceeds 5.5 on the Richter scale, also sending alerts to apps like SkyAlert. Ground movement can vary depending on the earthquake’s depth and epicentre. It is best to take action quickly when you hear the alarm.
It’s also very important that you know what the alarm sounds like. I found webcam footage on YouTube of an Earthquake in Mexico City. The footage isn’t great, but you can hear exactly how the alarm sounds here in this 1min video. You need to know this sound.
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Best Earthquake App for Oaxaca
The SkyAlert app is one of the best earthquake warning apps to download and a must have when visiting Oaxaca. I have it, and it could quite literally be a life saver. Another good one is Earthquake.
It connects to SASMEX and sends real-time alerts directly to your phone. The app provides a few seconds to a minute of warning, depending on the distance from the epicentre, giving users time to act.
SkyAlert also tracks aftershocks and provides maps of affected areas. It’s easy to use and a vital tool for staying informed and prepared.
In case you don’t hear the SASMEX alarm in real time, it’s best to download the app. It could give you those precious seconds needed to take cover and stay safe.
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Essential Earthquake Safety Tips for Oaxaca Visitors
For information on what to do during an Earthquake, it’s best to take advice and read an official Earthquake Safety Guide. One example here is from RedCross.
With the formalities out of the way, here’s my very unofficial advice…. don’t worry about drop and take cover. If you’re inside, get outside as quick as you can. Get into open space away from buildings or walls that could fall, powerlines and large trees.
Older buildings in Oaxaca City’s Centro can shed parts of their walls during earthquakes, so avoid walking near them during or after shaking.
Most of the time the app and the alarm will give you time to act. You never know when the next big earthquake will be. This isn’t to scare anyone, but to raise awareness about earthquakes in Oaxaca.
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Earthquake Preparedness:
Again, officially it’s best to read websites like RedCross.
People in Oaxaca and Mexico living in active earthquake areas are generally prepared for Earthquakes. They might have some sort of emergency bag prepared, and a plan on what to do if they’re home during an Earthquake.
Schools and workplaces in Oaxaca hold annual earthquake drills to prepare everyone. The awareness is there.
So if you’re like myself and come from a place/country where there’s no Earthquakes, all this information is very important.
Past Earthquakes in Oaxaca:
In recent times, there have been a couple big earthquakes. Most notably on September 7th 2017. Registering 8.2 on the Richter scale, which is huge!
The Epicentre was near Pijijiapan, Chiapas, but it caused massive destruction in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region of Oaxaca, especially in Juchitán near the coast. Houses were flattened and many people died.
I was in Oaxaca City at the time. It was the strongest earthquake I’ve ever experienced in my life. It was at 11.49pm and the house was shaking violently for about a minute. Things were falling off the shelves. It was at that moment, I started taking earthquakes seriously. Before then, I’d been oblivious to the power of them.
Since I moved to Oaxaca in 2014, I’ve lived through several 7+ magnitude earthquakes, which gives quite the scare.
Homemade earthquake detections
There are some funny homemade detectors you see online like the pic above, but they are actually quite practical. Something so simple will be an instant warning that the ground is shaking.
A wind chime indoors can alert you to movement, or you can find tutorials for some creative DIY detectors on Youtube. These basic tools may not replace professional systems but can serve as quick indicators of seismic activity.
Bolillo Para El Susto
A ‘bolillo para el susto’ saying stems from the belief that eating carbs can help soothe anxiety or stress—a folk remedy passed down in Mexican culture. That’s why you need to eat bread after an earthquake to calm yourself down.
The phrase becomes a popular meme in Mexico straight after an earthquake as a way to add humour to a rather tense situation.
In Closing
If you’re visiting Oaxaca short term, the chances of experiencing an earthquake are slim. However, earthquakes are a natural part of life here and being prepared makes all the difference. Download the SkyAlert app, familiarise yourself with safety tips, and enjoy Oaxaca with peace of mind.
Stay safe and Happy Travels ✌️
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