The Most Powerful Earthquake to Ever Rumble Through Baja California

California is one of the most seismically active areas of the United States. Baja California is a Mexican state that borders California, and many earthquakes also strike that region. However, one earthquake was larger and more powerful than any other that struck the region. Discover the most powerful earthquake to ever rumble through Baja California and find out when and where it struck along with the damage it caused. 

What Was the Most Powerful Earthquake to Ever Rumble Through Baja California?

The most powerful earthquake to ever rumble through Baja California was a 7.2 M_w earthquake. The quake struck the region on April 4, 2010, delivering an intensity of VII on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale. The event’s epicenter was 32.13°N 115.30°W, a place about 30 miles south of Mexicali, east of the Laguna Salada.

The foreshocks started on April 1, 2010, when a few 3 and 4 M_w quakes struck the region. The mainshock struck on April 4, 2010, and the aftershocks continued for months following the main event. Some of the aftershocks had magnitudes over 5 M_w.

The event lasted for about a minute and a half, and it started at 3:40 p.m. This event caused major damage to the immediate area and in an extensive surrounding area. Although this quake was a confirmed 7.2 M_w event, another nearby quake is sometimes considered among the strongest to strike the region. Let’s take a look at why the 1892 Laguna Salada earthquake was not the largest or strongest to hit Baja California.

A Potential Contender for the Strongest Baja California Quake

The 1892 Laguna Salada earthquake is sometimes called the most powerful one to strike Baja California. However, a few problems arise with such a designation when looking at the event. First, the epicenter of the quake is listed as 32.73°N 115.50°W, placing it slightly north of the border between the United States and Mexico.

Another issue is that the information used to gauge the strength of earthquakes has changed. In those days, scientists used an intensity-based magnitude estimate to determine the quake’s strength. As such, the original estimate for this earthquake’s power was 7.8 M_w. Modern interpretations of the event claim that it was more likely between 6.8 and 7.2 M_w.

That brings us to our final reason for not listing this quake as a tie for the 2010 Baja California earthquake: a lack of certainty about the event’s power. Scientists used more accurate forms of measurement to determine the strength, size, and intensity of the 2010 event. The data about the 2010 earthquake’s moment magnitude and Mercalli intensity make it a better choice for the strongest to hit the area.  

What Caused the 2010 Baja California Earthquake?

The most powerful earthquake to ever rumble through Baja California occurred at the Laguna Salada Fault, a fault that measures between 40 and 50 miles long. Scientists believe that an oblique-slip fault caused the earthquake. Although this quake’s epicenter was in a somewhat deserted area, the event’s power caused damage over a widespread area.

Where Was the Epicenter of the Most Powerful Earthquake to Rumble Through Baja California?

The 2010 Baja California earthquake’s epicenter was at 32.13°N 115.30°W. That makes the quake’s epicenter about 30 miles south of Mexicali and about 5 miles east of Laguna Salada. That places the earthquake’s point of origin firmly in Baja California and also shows why the event was felt in Mexico as well as in the United States.

The Damage Caused by the 2010 Baja California Earthquake

The most powerful earthquake to ever rumble through Baja California caused roughly $1.15 billion in damage to the areas affected by the quake. Large swaths of Mexicali lost electricity following the quake. Gas lines ruptured, causing fires throughout the city and its suburbs. Homes collapsed, irrigation systems failed, and roads cracked. The region experienced landslides.

In the United States, structural damage, water leaks, gas leaks, and power outages occurred in the Imperial Valley. The damage in the United States was far milder than in Mexico.  

How Many People Perished in the Quake?

Sadly, four people died as a result of the earthquake in Mexico. An estimated 200 people were injured during the earthquake, including people in the United States. Collapsing structures, falling building materials, fires, and floods were the main causes of these injuries. Still, if such a powerful quake struck a more populated area, the loss of life could have been much greater.

The most powerful earthquake to ever rumble through Baja California struck in 2010. Although a quake in 1892 could have matched the size and power of this quake, the data available about the 2010 quake makes more sense to list it as the most powerful to hit the region. The area struck by the quake is very seismically active, so future quakes will likely continue to affect the area.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Pablo Garcia