8.2 Earthquake Hit Guatemala and Mexico

Last night, Guatemala and Mexico were hit by an 8.2 earthquake at 10:49pm local time. It was quite long, over 3 minutes of a rolling motion and by its magnitude quite possibly the strongest earthquake in one hundred years. It was felt as far north as Mexico City and also in neighboring countries of El Salvador and Honduras; so in terms of area affected, it was the largest. There are some reports of damages near the border with Mexico, but casualties reported yet in Guatemala. The epicenter was near the border of the Oaxaca and Chiapas states in Mexico, right where the tectonic plates of Cocos and the Caribbean [see maps below].

Also, there were reports of earthquake lights sightings around Antigua Guatemala. “An earthquake light is an unusual luminous aerial phenomenon that reportedly appears in the sky at or near areas of tectonic stress, seismic activity, or volcanic eruptions.” Source: Wikipedia.

Besides the earthquake, September is feeling quiet and slow in Antigua Guatemala. Here’s an early morning vista of the Cathedral Complex, Real Palacio de los Capitanes and Volcán Agua in the background towering over Antigua Guatemala.

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