A strong earthquake off the coast of Russia has triggered alerts in several areas of the Pacific, including Mexico. The Baja California Sur Civil Protection Undersecretariat warned that unusual changes in sea level could occur beginning in the early hours of Wednesday, July 30.
These effects could affect various areas of the country, including some towns in Baja California and Baja California Sur. According to the Tsunami Warning Center of the Ministry of the Navy (CAT-SEMAR), waves are expected to reach heights of up to 1 meter in locations such as Ensenada, Punta Abreojos, and Cabo San Lucas.
This is due to the magnitude 8.7 earthquake recorded on July 29 at 6:56 p.m. (Central Mexico Time), with its epicenter at sea 122 kilometers east-southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. Sea level variations could begin to be felt starting at 2:00 a.m. on the country’s coasts.
Which areas of Baja California Sur could be affected?
According to the most recent CAT-SEMAR bulletin, the arrival of the marine phenomenon is expected in Cabo San Lucas at approximately 3:50 a.m., while Punta Abreojos, on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur, is expected to reach around 3:12 a.m.
In both cases, the maximum wave height could reach up to one meter, which could cause strong currents at port entrances, as well as abnormal waves in beach areas.
The municipality of Ensenada in the neighboring state is also within the monitoring area, with an estimated impact time of 2:22 a.m. At all these locations, precautions are requested with small boats and to avoid beaches during the indicated time.
Why can such a distant earthquake generate waves in Mexico?
When a large earthquake occurs in underwater areas, such as the one recorded off the Kamchatka Peninsula, an enormous amount of energy is released that can travel across the ocean in the form of waves. Even if the epicenter is thousands of kilometers away, these waves travel great distances.
When they reach other coasts, they can cause changes in sea level, such as rising waves or strong ocean currents, although they do not always generate destructive tsunamis.
These types of phenomena are not new, and although in many cases the variations in sea level are slight, early monitoring allows timely precautions to be taken to avoid risks, especially in areas with port or tourist activity.
What measures should be taken during these hours?
The main recommendations are to stay away from the coast starting early Wednesday morning and not to go sailing until the Tsunami Warning Center issues the cancellation of the advisory.
It is also advisable to take precautions at piers, ports, and beaches, as dangerous currents and irregular waves could be present, even if no obvious threat is visually perceived.
So far, no damage has been reported along the Mexican coast, but authorities will continue to monitor the storm. The storm could last for several hours, so it is recommended to follow information only from official sources.
Source: oem
