**Figure 2.**

*Natural Hazards - Impacts, Adjustments and Resilience*

the case of Mexico is presented.

Philippines, Mexico.

**2.1 Local tsunami risk**

(**Table 1** and **Figure 3**).

Playa Azul [15].

ranging from 2 to 3 m high [15].

**2. The risk of tsunamis in Mexico**

integrating, for example, the four key elements proposed by the UNISDR [20] for

The "Pacific ring of fire" belt covers a vast area of highly active tectonic plate boundaries where most of the earthquakes originate and active volcanoes (**Figure 1**). It is believed that three quarters of all the volcanoes in the world are in the ring [23]. Further, the "Ring of fire" runs through several countries, such as Canada,

Regarding the tsunami risk in Mexico, studies based on tsunami historical data showed that there are two zones of tsunami threat: local (i.e., generation of tsunamis) and remote (i.e., arrival of tsunamis) (**Figure 2**) [15, 22]. The authors defined these two zones by considering the nature of the faulting and tectonic plate interac-

According to [15, 22] at the west of the "Rivera plate" and along the "Middle America trench," the "Cocos plate" subduction beneath the "North American plate" at rates of 2.5 to 7.7 cm/year (**Figure 2**). Given the fact, that large earthquakes occur in this region; therefore, the zone has been regarded as a generator of tsunamis

According to historical data, the generated tsunamis that produced the high-

Interestingly, a day after the main earthquake, a M7.5 aftershock hit the zone; it is thought the generated tsunami affected a local fishing community with waves

est wave heights were those that occurred in 1925 (7–11 m), 1932 (9–10 m), 1995 (2.9–5.10 m), 1985 (1–3 m). For example, the 1985 earthquake of M8.0 of magnitude generated a tsunami that affected several communities in this zone. It is believed that a key infrastructure port was affected with waves of 2.5 m and flooded the area about 500 m inland [15]. Also, several tourist resorts were affected by the tsunami; for example, waves for up to 2.5 m high were observed in

USA, Russia, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia,

tion. In the subsequent subsection each of these will be addressed.

**194**

**Figure 1.**

*The "Ring of fire" [23].*

*Mexico's local & remote tsunami threat [15, 22].*



#### **Table 1.**

*Local tsunamis-only those with wave height > 1.0 m are shown [22].*

**Figure 3.** *Local tsunamis in the pacific coast of Mexico [24].*

More recently, it has been found that instrumentally based assessments of "tsunamigenic" possibility of subduction zones in the Pacific coast have underestimated the frequency and magnitude of great earthquakes and tsunamis [25]. The authors argue that geological evidence shows that in fact great tsunamis (and earthquakes) have occurred in the subduction zone in the past, i.e., the stretch of the coasts of Guerrero and Oaxaca, the southern region of Mexico.

For example, it has been found evidence of two sand tsunami deposits, 1.5 km inland of the coast [25]. Further, it is believed that an earthquake of M8.6 of magnitude occurred in 1787 and produced a giant tsunami that flooded up to 6 km inland. The second tsunami (less documented) occurred in the year 1537. More importantly, the authors conclude that great tsunamis have occurred in the Pacific coast of the country.

On the other hand, it should be highlighted that another geographical region that is not mentioned in the official reports (e.g., in Ref. [22]) in relation to the potential tsunami source is that related to those originating in the Caribbean Sea (**Figure 4**). It is believed that geological events such as volcanoes and earthquakes

**197**

*The Risk of Tsunamis in Mexico*

region [27], p. 60.

**Figure 4.**

people [27], p. 84.

US. However, no causalities have been reported.

tsunami warning was lifted off after a few hours.

3 for further details about this).

**2.2 Remote tsunami risk**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94201*

*The 123 km of Lucea, Jamaica earthquake in 2020 [26].*

are common and therefore the region is geological active [27]. Further, the authors argue that historical data has shown that there has been the occurrence of "teletsunamis," tectonic tsunamis, landslide tsunamis, and volcanic tsunamis in the

That is, there has been twenty-seven "verified tsunamis" and "nine are considered to be very likely true tsunamis" of a total of 97 reported waves that might be tsunamis in the Caribbean region [27]. Moreover, it is believed that one of the deadliest and most recent tsunamis that hit communities in Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico occurred in 1946; the tsunami killed 1790

More recently, this threat became more apparent with the occurrence of a strong earthquake in the region (**Figure 4**). That is, on 28 January 2020, an earthquake of M7.7 of magnitude (with a depth of 1o km) hit between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica and Cuba [26]. It is believed that the tremors were felt as far away as Miami,

The earthquake prompted the issuing of tsunami warnings by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) [28]. The PTWC's warning was: "hazardous tsunami waves are possible; it is thought the warning was for communities living along the coasts located within 300 km from the epicentre; i.e., those include coasts of the following countries: the Caiman Islands, Jamaica, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, and Mexico (i.e., the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, **Figure 4**). The

Overall, it may be argued that a potential threat of tsunamis come from the Caribbean Sea, although it may be regarded as extremely low (i.e., there has not been any data of tsunamis hitting the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula); however, tsunamis are unpredictable and communities, governments should always be prepared for the unthinkable, because as usual, this is what happens (see Section

It is believed that on the Northwest of the "Rivera plate" (**Figure 2**), along the Gulf of California where the Pacific Plate slides north with respect to the North American plate, generation of tsunamis in this zone is unlikely [15, 22]. This is

#### **Figure 4.**

*Natural Hazards - Impacts, Adjustments and Resilience*

*Local tsunamis-only those with wave height > 1.0 m are shown [22].*

1995 Colima 8.1 Boca de Iguanas

More recently, it has been found that instrumentally based assessments of "tsunamigenic" possibility of subduction zones in the Pacific coast have underestimated the frequency and magnitude of great earthquakes and tsunamis [25]. The authors argue that geological evidence shows that in fact great tsunamis (and earthquakes) have occurred in the subduction zone in the past, i.e., the stretch of the coasts of

**Year Region Magnitude Tsunami (places hit, Mexico) Max. height** 

2003 Colima 7.8 Manzanillo 1.22 2017 Chiapas 8.1 Salina Cruz 1.10

Barra de Navidad San Mateo Melaque Cuastecomate El Tecuán Punta Careyes Chamela Pérula Punta Chalacatepec **waves (m)**

5.10 5.10 4.90 4.50 4.40 3.80 3.50 3.20 3.40 2.90

For example, it has been found evidence of two sand tsunami deposits, 1.5 km

On the other hand, it should be highlighted that another geographical region that is not mentioned in the official reports (e.g., in Ref. [22]) in relation to the potential tsunami source is that related to those originating in the Caribbean Sea (**Figure 4**). It is believed that geological events such as volcanoes and earthquakes

inland of the coast [25]. Further, it is believed that an earthquake of M8.6 of magnitude occurred in 1787 and produced a giant tsunami that flooded up to 6 km inland. The second tsunami (less documented) occurred in the year 1537. More importantly, the authors conclude that great tsunamis have occurred in the Pacific

Guerrero and Oaxaca, the southern region of Mexico.

*Local tsunamis in the pacific coast of Mexico [24].*

**196**

**Figure 3.**

**Table 1.**

coast of the country.

*The 123 km of Lucea, Jamaica earthquake in 2020 [26].*

are common and therefore the region is geological active [27]. Further, the authors argue that historical data has shown that there has been the occurrence of "teletsunamis," tectonic tsunamis, landslide tsunamis, and volcanic tsunamis in the region [27], p. 60.

That is, there has been twenty-seven "verified tsunamis" and "nine are considered to be very likely true tsunamis" of a total of 97 reported waves that might be tsunamis in the Caribbean region [27]. Moreover, it is believed that one of the deadliest and most recent tsunamis that hit communities in Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico occurred in 1946; the tsunami killed 1790 people [27], p. 84.

More recently, this threat became more apparent with the occurrence of a strong earthquake in the region (**Figure 4**). That is, on 28 January 2020, an earthquake of M7.7 of magnitude (with a depth of 1o km) hit between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica and Cuba [26]. It is believed that the tremors were felt as far away as Miami, US. However, no causalities have been reported.

The earthquake prompted the issuing of tsunami warnings by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) [28]. The PTWC's warning was: "hazardous tsunami waves are possible; it is thought the warning was for communities living along the coasts located within 300 km from the epicentre; i.e., those include coasts of the following countries: the Caiman Islands, Jamaica, Belize, Cuba, Honduras, and Mexico (i.e., the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, **Figure 4**). The tsunami warning was lifted off after a few hours.

Overall, it may be argued that a potential threat of tsunamis come from the Caribbean Sea, although it may be regarded as extremely low (i.e., there has not been any data of tsunamis hitting the Caribbean coast of the Yucatan Peninsula); however, tsunamis are unpredictable and communities, governments should always be prepared for the unthinkable, because as usual, this is what happens (see Section 3 for further details about this).
