It was 22 years ago today when, at 7:19 a.m. local time, Mexico City was shaken by an earthquake which is said to have released the energy of 1,114 20-kiloton atomic bombs. The Richter scale registered 8.1 that morning, and in only two minutes huge portions of the city were destroyed. The earthquake’s epicenter was situated off the coasts of Guerrero and Michoacan states, but affected the Valley of Mexico, the center of which is Mexico City, much more intensely.

The magnitude of the damage is illustrated by the official numbers:

- 2,831 buildings were structurally damaged; 31 percent in ruins (880)
- 13 hospitals were destroyed
- An estimated $9-12 billion dollars in damage
- 50,000 city residents were left homeless
- 10,000 people lost their lives

But because there was media censorship at the time of the tragedy, we may never know the real statistics. Some sources say that 30,000 buildings were completely destroyed, and that the real death count rose to 35,000 — others say 40,000.

As we look back on this sad event in Mexican history, I leave you with this interesting video which talks about media’s reaction to the tragedy and what Mexicans learned that day about broadcasters, about government, and about themselves:

Author Elena Poniatowska remembers: “Society’s rejects, the forgotten, were the real authors of the salvation of the city. Meanwhile, the authorities remained asleep.”

Just three days after jubilantly celebrating Fiestas Patrias, Mexico City was left crushed under the ruins of itself. 22 years later, capitalinos still feel the pain of that morning, but with their characteristic resilience still think of September as a month of freedom and not of fear.

Via / Various sources: CNN, Wikipedia, Televisa, Instituto Mexicano de Seguridad Social

Image via fher_citox’s Flickr page