The west coast, namely Mexico, has been met with major earthquakes over the past two weeks, reaching up to a magnitude of 7.6 on the Richter Scale. (Earthquakes are considered major once they hit 7.) Eleven more earthquakes have since followed in Mexico, California, and Guatemala, with magnitudes ranging from 2.7-6.8. Thankfully, only three deaths have been confirmed from these earthquakes.

On September 19 at 2:05 PM, the first of many earthquakes struck the state of Michoacán, which is along the Pacific coast of Mexico. September 19 also marks the 5-year anniversary of a tremor that killed 370 people and another earthquake that killed 5,000 people. There was one person killed due to a collapsed wall in a neighboring state, but the 7.6 magnitude earthquake did not cause immediate, significant damage in Michoacán. In the neighboring state of Colima, there was significant flooding and a tsunami risk. 

The next day, September 20, a 4.7 magnitude earthquake hit the state of Michoacán once again at 6:43AM. Only two days later, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the state. Two people were killed, and the quake was felt throughout the state. The only damage reported was damages to a building and landslides on a few highways. There were four total earthquakes to hit the state of Michoacán, Mexico. 

Over the course of two weeks, Mexico has seen nine earthquakes across the country, California has seen two, and Guatemala has seen one. The tragic history of all the natural disasters that have happened on September 19 will stay with Mexican citizens for a very long time.