Sonora earthquake strikes Mexico
- When
- 1887
- Where
- Teras mountain range; Tombstone, Arizona (reporting newspapers)
- Episodes
- 2
The 1887 Sonora earthquake occurred on 3 May in northwestern Mexico, generating significant damage and casualties. Felt widely across the border, it produced the longest recorded normal-fault surface rupture in historic time at that point. Aftershocks continued through late 1887, and contemporary reports were praised for their thoroughness.
Episodes
- Main Shock
The earthquake occurred at 22:13 UTC on 3 May in the Teras mountain range, causing significant damage.
- Aftershocks
Newspapers in Tombstone, Arizona, reported lesser quakes in August and November 1887.
Background and detail
Background. The earthquake struck the Teras mountain range in northwestern Mexico at 22:13 UTC on 3 May 1887. It was widely felt, with damage recorded up to 200 kilometers from the epicenter in both Mexico and the United States. The event had an estimated magnitude of 7.6.
Impact. The seismic event caused 42 casualties in the town of Bavispe and 51 overall. It was noted for producing the longest recorded normal-fault surface rupture in historic time at that point. Contemporary reports describing the event were praised for being systematic, conscientious, and thorough.
Aftershocks. Tombstone Arizona newspapers mentioned lesser quakes, identified as aftershocks, occurring on August 27, 1887, and November 11, 1887. These events followed the main shock and were recorded in local press coverage.
Sources
- 1887 Sonora earthquake Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-12
Machine-drafted from the cited Wikipedia passages and checked by a reviewing model, not by a human editor. Every passage cites the revision it was written from; dates and places follow those passages.