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01/13/2004 Archived Entry: "Earthquake in Mexico City!"
Hip Hip Hurray - I have survived my fourth earthquake in Mexico City! The last one took place a few minutes ago with the whole office building making a strange wobbly motion for a few seconds that gave me a light nausea. Then it stopped. News of the earthquake have not reached Internet news sites yet. I wonder how strong it was on the Richter scale? Taking into account that our building is anchored on solid rock in Bosques de las Lomas, this earthquake must have been quite powerful to produce such a noticeable effect. Usually the old buildings in the city center fall into rubbles before anything at all is felt in Bosques (I noticed the previous earthquake when the light went off because the entire power plant down in the city was taken down, though not a tremor was felt in Bosques).
This event reminds me of my first major earthquake in Mexico City. It was around 6:00AM and I was sound asleep in my delicious bed located at the 37th floor of the hotel Nikko. I woke up, opening one hesitant eye, when I heard the bathroom door banging repeatedly. Then I registered a noise that I had never heard before: the reinforced concrete structure of the hotel suffering under the tremendous strength of the earthquake - a noise that I will never forget, much more impressive than the motion itself. After trying to think for a couple of seconds, I came to the conclusion that it was too early to run for cover (where?) or to die (why?) - hence I went back to sleep, pulling my pillow above my head, just in case 10 floors worth of concrete were to collapse on me...!
Latest news: according to the Servicio Sismologico Nacional the earthquake reached a 5.5 magnitude on the Richter scale and its epicenter was located just off the coasts from Oaxaca, hundreds of kilometres away from Mexico City.
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