M7.1 earthquake hits Mexico, insured cost from previous one at up to $1.12bn

A major magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday, September 19, shortly after the M8.1 earthquake hit the Mexican state of Chiapas on September 7.

The Sept. 19 earthquake struck central Mexico causing extensive damage across the greater Mexico City metropolitan area and near the epicentre in the city of Puebla. At least 119 people were confirmed dead, but this toll was expected to continue rising as relief and rescue operations remain underway. Hundreds more were injured as the jolt lasted for dozens of seconds, according to an Aon Benfield briefing.

The tremor was widely felt across much of Mexico as many structures – including some multi-story structures – either collapsed or were severely damaged. Substantial damage additionally occurred to infrastructure (including roads, bridges, and underground pipes) and the electrical grid.

Most fatalities occurred after the earthquake caused hundreds of buildings to collapse near the epicentre and into numerous Mexico City neighbourhoods. Many of the structures were multi-story which pancaked to the ground. At least 44 buildings collapsed in Mexico City alone, which sent plumes of smoke and dust across the metro area, according to Aon Benfield.

The city was built on a former lake bed and sits on top of soil that is particularly vulnerable to amplifying the effects of earthquakes that occur hundreds of miles away.

This event occurred less than two weeks after a magnitude-8.1 earthquake struck offshore the state of Chiapas and left at least 98 people dead. Local officials from the Chiapas Civil Protection Agency cited that roughly 55,000 homes damaged or destroyed across 97 affected municipalities.

The industry insured losses from the magnitude 8.1 earthquake on Sept. 7 will be between MXN14 billion ($787.2 million) and MXN20 billion ($1.12 billion), according to catastrophe modelling firm AIR Worldwide.

This was the highest magnitude earthquake to affect Mexico in a century, and stuck around 1,000 km away from Mexico City, according to the statement. The capital did not experience any major damage, although a highway under construction to the city’s new airport partially collapsed, and windows at the existing airport shattered.

Chiapas, along with the state of Oaxaca, were the hardest hit and experienced multiple aftershocks, dozens of which were magnitude 4.5 or greater.

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