Travel Journal — Mexico City
The Mysterious Tale of Mexico City’s September 19 Earthquakes
Year after year, they come together for the annual earthquake simulation and then the real one hits.
In Mexico City, every year on September 19, something peculiar happens. People gather for an earthquake simulation, and what makes it even more intriguing is that, almost like clockwork, a real earthquake strikes just a few minutes after the drill. It’s a puzzle that has left locals scratching their heads for decades.
Let’s take a closer look at this unusual phenomenon.
The story begins in 1985 when a massive earthquake rocked Mexico City in the early hours of September 19. Tragically, more than 9,000 lives were lost in this devastating event, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s collective memory. Then, in 2017, history seemed to repeat itself as another powerful earthquake struck on the very same date.
And I vividly recall my first year living here, approaching September 2021, when I was introduced to this mystery. One morning, as I was having breakfast in a colonial building in Colonia San Rafael, right after the earthquake simulation, a real earthquake once again shook the city. This pattern was repeated in 2022. This…
