Saturday 21 March 2015

Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake in southwest Puebla State, Mexico.

The United States Geological Survey recorded a Magnitude 5.3 Earthquake at a depth of 53 km in southwest Puebla State in southern Mexico at about 4.30 pm local time (10.30 pm GMT) on Friday 20 March 2015. There are no reports of any damage of casualties associated with this event, but people have reported feeling it from across much of southern Mexico.

The approximate location of the 20 March 2015 Puebla Earthquake. Google Maps.

Southern Mexico is located on the southernmost part of the North American Plate. To the south, along the Middle American Trench, which lies off the southern coast off Mexico, the Cocos Plate is being subducted under the North American Plate, passing under southern Mexico as it sinks into the Earth. This is not a smooth process, and the plates frequently stick together then break apart as the pressure builds up, causing Earthquakes on the process.

See also...

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