March 14, 1979 Earthquake: Guerrero, Mexico
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Guerrero, Mexico on March 14, 1979 at 11:07:16 UTC, 49 km below the surface. It killed 5 people.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- March 14, 1979
- Time
- 11:07:16 UTC
- Place
- Guerrero, Mexico
- Magnitude
- 7.6 (Ms)
- Focal depth
- 49 km (30 mi)
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 17.813° N, 101.276° W
- Country
- Mexico
The toll
- Deaths
- 5
- Injuries
- 35
- Damage
- $30 million
- Houses destroyed
- 200
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
On March 14, 1979, a strong earthquake occurred not far from Petatlan (Mexico). It generated a weak tsunami. (reference #417)
Five people killed, many injured and extensive damage in the Mexico City area. Extensive damage also reported at many villages in Guerrero and slight damage at Aacapulco, Guadalajara, Monterrey and Puebla. (reference #1053)
5 killed, 35 injured, $30 million damage, 7500 homeless, 200 buildings demolished or severely damaged. (reference #1250)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- September 19, 1985, Mexico City, Michoacan
- July 6, 1964, Guerrero, Mexico
- January 30, 1973, S, Farias, Tecoman, Mexico
- October 3, 1864, Puebla,veracruz,acultzingo,acatzingo, Mexico
- April 15, 1907, Guerrero, Mexico
- February 22, 1943, Paricutin Volcano Forms, Guerrero, Mexico
- May 11, 1962, Southern Mexico
- October 25, 1981, Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan, Mexico
- September 8, 2021, Guerrero, Mexico
- September 22, 2022, Mexico City, Michoacan
- December 11, 2011, Guerrero, Mexico
- January 16, 1902, Guerrero, Mexico
- September 19, 2022, Michoacan, Colima, Jalisco, Mexico
- December 4, 1852, S. Mexico
- January 11, 1997, Michoacan, Arteaga, Mexico
More
Significant earthquakes of 1979The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1979Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 4828.