Cancún, Quintana Roo — Following two earthquakes in less than eight days that have alarmed residents, local civil protection officials announced they are reviewing protocols and assessing whether the region needs a seismic alert system.
Antonio de Jesús Riveroll Ribbon, director of the Municipal Civil Protection Department, said the recent tremors have raised many questions about warning systems, similar to those used in other parts of Mexico.
“In this area, the alarm doesn’t sound because the alert system is designed for the Pacific zone, and we don’t have markers here,” Riveroll said. He noted that Tuesday’s earthquake was not detected by the U.S. monitoring system, but was recorded in Cuba, according to state and national civil protection coordination.
Riveroll said authorities have begun discussions with coordinating agencies to determine whether the tremors are isolated events or indicate a greater risk from tectonic plates. “Earthquakes in Mexico or the world are not the same and require different treatments based on each region’s conditions,” he said.
While no timeline has been set for the analysis, Riveroll emphasized that officials are working to ensure public safety. “This is not a tremor-prone zone, but we will analyze it and conduct studies. The epicenter wasn’t here, but it wasn’t far — 250 kilometers away in Cuba. We need complementary studies to understand what’s happening and whether there is a scientific explanation,” he said.
The results could lead to changes in risk atlases, building regulations, and other measures. Riveroll recalled that two years ago, a tremor felt in Chetumal originated from an earthquake in Honduras. At that time, officials consulted with the Urban Development Department and confirmed that local construction systems and regulations were adequate for such events.
For now, Riveroll said Cancún has reported no structural damage. A crack mentioned at a shopping plaza turned out to be a ceiling panel issue; the area was cordoned off as a precaution, but there was no structural harm. Immediate inspections of tall buildings, older structures like Corales, hospitals, and offices found no damage.
Regarding tsunami alerts, Riveroll said the Mexican Navy handles those warnings and has not issued any related to the recent earthquakes.
Riveroll urged residents to call 911 if they have concerns about their buildings or notice cracks, rather than relying on social media reports. “When an expert inspects, the crack or problem often turns out not to be related to the earthquake,” he said.
