A scene from Mexico City’s 1985 quake. Photo: Google

By KELIN DILLON

Tuesday, Sept. 19 marks the anniversary of a series of devastating earthquakes in Mexico that span back to 1985.

On Sept. 19, 1985, a 8.1 magnitude earthquake located off the coast of the state of Michoacán rocked Mexico, including the central metropolises of Mexico City and Guadalajara.

The 1985 earthquake reportedly caused more than $4.1 billion in damages, collapsed homes nationwide, resulted in injuries to more than 30,000 people and an estimated death toll between 10,000 and 45,000 individuals. 

Exactly 32 years later, on Sept. 19, 2017, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the state of Puebla, collapsing more than 40 buildings in the Greater Mexico City area and resulting in the deaths of more than 370 people.

Yet another quake rocked the country on Sept. 19, 2022, with the epicenter of the 7.7 magnitude earthquake stemming once again from Michoacán just hours after a nationwide earthquake drill was held.

Two individuals reportedly died during the 2022 quake while another 35 were injured.

While the series of recurring quakes on Sept. 19 has caused many to consider the date as indicative of an impending earthquake, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has predicted there is only a 0.000000005 percent chance of another earthquake happening on the 2023 anniversary.

Mexico is also slated to hold another national earthquake drill on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m.