Have you ever wondered which part of the country would be the most affected in the event of a tsunami hitting Mexico? In April 2024, a team of researchers from UNAM’s Tsunami and Paleoseismology Laboratory, headed by María Teresa Ramírez, revealed disturbing findings about seismic activity on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
What the analysis revealed will surprise you! For everything points directly to the state of Guerrero as the region most likely to face a devastating tsunami in the near future.
The research, based on geological studies and analysis of the subduction zone that crosses this coastal strip, suggests that this region has a high potential to generate a large-scale phenomenon.
According to experts, one of the oldest and most powerful tsunamis on record in the country occurred long before the arrival of the Spaniards, precisely between Acapulco and Petatlán. It is estimated that that event exceeded 8 degrees of magnitude.
Scientists point out that the geological characteristics of Guerrero -where the Cocos Plate sinks under the North American Plate- make this area constantly accumulating seismic energy. When this energy is abruptly released, it can provoke large earthquakes that, when interacting with the ocean, trigger potentially catastrophic tsunamis.
How prepared is Mexico for a tsunami?
Despite advances in monitoring and early warnings, specialists warn that many coastal communities are still vulnerable. In addition, the growth of tourism and real estate in areas such as Acapulco increases the human and economic risk of a possible event.
UNAM insists on the need to strengthen emergency protocols, train the local population and improve coastal infrastructure. There is no doubt that knowledge about the past is key to avoid tragedies in the future.
Meanwhile, research continues to advance, and Guerrero remains in the spotlight of Mexican seismologists. A warning that should not be ignored.