Major Hurricane Otis damaged the earthquake early warning system on Mexico’s Pacific coast. The operator announced on Wednesday that communication with at least 27 of the approximately 100 sensors in the seismic observation network had been interrupted. If a strong earthquake occurs near the damaged sensors, the population cannot be warned in time.
Although technicians are available to make repairs, major transportation routes in the region have been disrupted as a result of the storm. “Otis” hit the southwestern coast of Mexico early Wednesday (local time) as a Category 5 hurricane near the famous resort of Acapulco – packing sustained winds of nearly 170 miles per hour and gusts of up to 210 miles per hour. Telephone and internet connections went out and more than half a day later the port city was still cut off from the outside world. The exact extent of the damage initially remained unknown. Otis was later downgraded to a normal tropical storm.
The entire west coast of South, Central and North America lies within the Pacific Ring of Fire – the most geologically active region in the world. Several tectonic plates come together in this arc-shaped belt with a length of 40,000 kilometers.
Advance warning several tens of seconds before the earthquake
Although earthquakes cannot be predicted, the early warning system quickly detects the first tremors and activates an alarm. This system also gives the capital Mexico City, which is located hundreds of kilometers from the Pacific coast, a warning a few tens of seconds before a major earthquake.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
