What makes Mexico City vulnerable to earthquakes?

Yesterday, Mexico City was struck by a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake. As of today, over 200 people have been reported dead as rescuers continue their efforts to recover those still trapped in the rubble. Dozens of buildings in and around the city were reduced to rubble and many more, severely... read more

Mexico sits at the boundary of three fault lines—a very active seismic zone that makes the area extremely vulnerable to earthquakes of high magnitude that are capable of destroying whole buildings and ripping façades off others. read more

Mexico City is vulnerable to earthquakes because of the surface geology of the area, especially the downtown area. The city grew from an island in the middle of Lake Texcoco which was eventually drained. The downtown of Mexico City mostly lies on the silt and volcanic clay sediments of the bed of the historic lake which has a high water content. read more

Mexico City was built on soft soil, which means that the energy from earthquakes is transferred into the buildings on the surface. The coast of Mexico is on the edge of two tectonic plates, which results in frequent earthquakes. read more