The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has launched a significant initiative to enhance public safety by constructing 58 new seismic monitoring stations across the country, particularly focusing on the northern regions, which have historically lacked adequate monitoring. This move aims to improve our understanding of seismic activity, ultimately better protecting communities from the potential risks associated with earthquakes.
This expansion will primarily cover the Baja California peninsula and states like Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, and Nuevo León, regions often perceived as low-risk for seismic events. However, experts such as Leonardo Ramírez Guzmán, head of the seismic research unit at UNAM’s Institute of Engineering, emphasize that seismic activity does occur in these areas. These new stations will help identify and study these events more accurately, fostering greater safety and preparedness.
Unlike systems that predict earthquakes, these stations will gather crucial data for rapid damage assessments, providing near-real-time information to emergency responders. Currently, Guerrero leads the nation with 34 seismic stations, while Oaxaca follows closely with 30 and two more under construction. Mexico City boasts approximately 100 stations, making its network one of the world’s densest alongside cities like Tokyo and Los Angeles.
This expansion is backed by the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) and the National Center for Disaster Prevention (Cenapred). Additionally, UNAM is rolling out an innovative platform that can display earthquake intensity maps within an hour of a tremor, a system recently validated by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in Guerrero. The swift readings matched reported damages, assisting in pinpointing affected areas.
Mexico has a robust seismic infrastructure, including the Sasmex alert system, the world’s oldest public earthquake early-warning service, which has been operational since 1991. According to data from Mexico’s National Seismological Service (SSN), the nation has experienced 15 earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater in the last 25 years, primarily along the Pacific coast. A broader study covering over 200 years reports Mexico has recorded 322 earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or greater, highlighting the importance of continued investment in earthquake monitoring and preparedness.