Copyright Information: All images are in the public domain and available for free. If you use this image, credit NOAA/NGDC, E.V. Leyendecker, U.S. Geological Survey. |
Failed first-story column in an eleven-story apartment building after the 1985 Mexico City earthquake. This column failure was induced by a variation in stiffness between the first and other floors of the building, concentrating the load in the first story columns. Note that column ties appear to be undamaged. Image Credit: E.V. Leyendecker. U.S. Geological Survey September 19, 1985 Mexico City Mexico earthquake The magnitude 8.1 earthquake occurred off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The damage was concentrated in a 25 square km area of Mexico City, 350 km from the epicenter. The underlying geology and geologic history of Mexico City contributed to this unusual concentration of damage at a distance from the epicenter. Of a population of 18 million, an estimated 10,000 people were killed, and 50,000 were injured. Event Data:
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