THE 7.2 MAGNITUDEEARTHQUAKE THATSHOOK MEXICALI, BAJA CALIFORNIA,

MÉXICO.

Easter Sunday: April 4 2010

By: Armando R. Lara Valle arlara@baja.gob.mx

The Earthquake Stats• MAGNITUD: 7.2 Degrees on the Richter Scale.• DURATION: 89 seconds.• DATE: Sunday April 4, 2010• TIME: 15: 40: 41 hours.• EPICENTRE: 31.128 N and 115.303 W• DEPTH: 10 Kilometers.• DISTANCE FROM THE EPICENTER TO MAIN

POPULATION CENTERS: From Mexicali, 60 Km; from San Luis Río Colorado, 62 Km; from Tijuana, 167 Km.

• DEATHS: 2 people.• INJURED: 254 people.• HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED: 5,200 rural homes

• DAMAGED ROADS: 150 Km of rural highways. The highway from “El Faro” to the “Kilómetro 57” community, was completely destroyed, with a series of fallen bridges and extensive cracks.

• AFFECTED POPULATION: 35,000 affected.• DAMAGES BY FLOODING: Some 60,000 hectacres of crop land

was damages due to the overflowing of the “Reforma” and “Delta”canals, which flooded 60 communities. It produced one of a kind phenomenon: the appearance of geyser which released large volumes of water with a strong smell of sulfur.

• SISMIC EVENTS PRODUCED (As of Tuesday, 18:00 hours): 925 tremors.

• COMPARISON: The quake was one tenth stronger than the one that demolished the capital of Haiti.

• FORCE: It was felt all the way to Disneyland, 340 Kilometers away, It caused the theme park to close until damages could be assessed.

The Earthquake Stats

The Cucapah Sierra which ends at the “Centinela” mountain and is located

between the Laguna Salada and Mexicali, seconds after the earthquake

La Sierra del Cucapah (que termina en el famoso cerro del centinela) y que se encuentra entre la Laguna Salada y

Mexicali, segundos después del terremoto

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

Kilometer 20 on the Mexicali-Tijuana highway, near the Centinelamountain.

PLAZA FIESTA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CIVIC CENT ER

PLAZA FIESTA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CIVIC CENT ER

PLAZA FIESTA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CIVIC CENT ER

PLAZA FIESTA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CIVIC CENT ER

PLAZA FIESTA, ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE CIVIC CENT ER

“Vista Hermosa” Private Residence

“Vista Hermosa” Private Residence

BUSINESS AT THE INTERSECTION OF “J” STREET AND MADERO

Irrigation Canals Torn Apart By the Quake

Irrigation Canals Torn Apart By the Quake

The Colonia “La Bolsa” where two irrigation canals were destroyed. The water level reached a meter and a half high.

Flooding due to broken irrigation canals.

Flooding due to broken irrigation canals.

CRACKED CANAL BARRIERS

DOWNTOWN: Between Av. Juárez and López Mateos

CRACKS AND SINK HOLES IN MEXICALI

CRACKS AND SINK HOLES IN MEXICALI

ONE OF THE STREETS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN

CIVIC CENTRE PARKING LOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CIVIC CENTRE PARKING LOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CIVIC CENTRE PARKING LOT UNDER CONSTRUCTION

CIVIC CENTRE STAIRWAY

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICES AT THE CIVIC CENTRE

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICES AT THE CIVIC CENTRE

EXECUTIVE BRANCH OFFICES AT THE CIVIC CENTRE

BUILDING BEHIND PLAZA CALAFIA

“CALIFORNIA” RESTAURANT, IN FRONT OF COSTCO

“CALIFORNIA” RESTAURANT, IN FRONT OF COSTCO

BUSINESS AT AV. REFORMA DOWNTOWN

PRIVATE UNIVERSITY ON AV. LÁZARO CÁRDENAS AND VENUSTIANO CARRANZA

COLLAPSED BUILDINGS

COLLAPSED ROOFS

RIO NUEVO, (Av. De los Presidentes) IN FRONT OF THE FLAG POLE AND ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE FACULTY OF SCIENCES’ ADMINISTRATION

BUILDING OF THE BAJA CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY

Home belonging to the Carranza Community in Mexicali Valley

Businesses destroyed

Businesses destroyed

Fallen Light Poles

Fallen Light Poles