Unprecedented earthquake in non-seismic region of Yucatan confounds scientists

January 2015 – MEXICO – An earthquake was registered on the evening of Sunday January 10th, with an epicenter near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, an area traditionally considered non seismic. According to Margarita Vidal Amaro of the National Seismological Service, an earthquake of magnitude 4.2 on the Richter scale occurred at 9:49 pm on Sunday January 10th 2015. The epicenter was located exactly 67 kilometers (41 miles) southwest of Playa del Carmen, in Quintana Roo. Several Twitter users posted comments regarding this unusual event in this part of the country. The government of Quintana Roo requested support from national institutions on Monday January 12th, to help determine the causes of this earthquake that occurred off the coast of Tulum. But the National Seismological Service in Mexico City officially confirmed the event since Sunday January 11th with no plausible explanation. Vidal Amaro explained that the quake occurred on the mainland and so there was no danger of a tsunami in the area. She added that even though earthquakes are unprecedented in the area, there are tectonic plates all over Mexico, which can lead to earthquakes. The quake was felt with greater magnitude in the town of Tulum, according to reports on social networks. –Yucatan Times