Earthquakes in Mexico — December 2024

27 earthquakes were recorded in Mexico during December 2024, an average of 0.9 per day.

3 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 13 km.

The month's largest event in Mexico was a magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Cuajinicuilapa, Mexico on 15 December 2024 at 09:58 UTC. A magnitude 5.0 earthquake radiates roughly 477 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Mexico monthly average of 18 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 12 recorded the previous month.

100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 10 in the magnitude 1 range, 11 in the magnitude 2 range, 3 in the magnitude 3 range, 2 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 15 December, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.0 near Cuajinicuilapa, Mexico on 15 December at 10 km; M4.4 near Salina Cruz, Mexico on 03 December at 52 km; M4.3 near Acapulco, Mexico on 15 December at 10 km.

That is 46% above the 18 events Mexico averages per month across the 2 months on record.