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In recent days, several countries located in the so-called Ring of Fire have recorded seismic movements, a situation that sparked alerts and fear among the population. Concern increased after recent earthquakes were recorded in different parts of the Pacific and Latin America; for example, this August 20, 2026, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook Peru, leading people on social media to ask if the Ring of Fire had been “activated,” which would explain the frequency of these events. Did that happen? We explain what is known.
Has the Pacific Ring of Fire been activated?
There is no scientific evidence that the Ring of Fire has been “activated."
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Ring of Fire is the most seismically and volcanically active zone on the planet and is related to the boundaries of the tectonic plates surrounding the Pacific.
Therefore, the occurrence of several earthquakes in countries that are part of this region does not mean that a switch has been flipped, nor that all earthquakes are necessarily connected to each other.
Which countries have recently recorded strong earthquakes?
Seismic activity in recent weeks has once again focused attention on several countries located within the Ring of Fire. Among the earthquakes that have been recorded are:
- Perú de magnitud 6.7 registrado el 20 de agosto
- Indonesia de magnitud 7.7 registrado el 15 de agosto
- Colombia de magnitud 7.4 registrado el 10 de agosto
- México de magnitud 7.4 registrado el 17 de julio
- Venezuela (no está dentro del Cinturón de Fuego) con un doble sismo de 7.2 y 7.5 registrados el 24 de junio
- Filipinas de magnitud 7.8 registrado el 7 de junio.
Is Mexico within the Ring of Fire?
Yes, Mexico is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire; this is one of the reasons why the country experiences significant seismic activity. Mexico is located in a zone where different tectonic plates interact, including the North American, Pacific, Cocos, Rivera, and Caribbean plates.
The subduction of plates off the Mexican coast is one of the processes that explains a large part of the earthquakes that occur in states such as Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco.
Can an earthquake in Peru or Indonesia trigger another one in Mexico?
There is no evidence that a distant earthquake can automatically “activate” another one in Mexico. Experts have noted that it is not possible to use these events to predict when an earthquake will occur.
Is Mexico at risk of suffering a strong earthquake?
Yes, Mexico is a country with high seismic risk, but that does not mean there is a prediction of an imminent earthquake. The country has recorded some of the strongest earthquakes in its history, among which are:
-1957 Earthquake: 7.8 magnitude
-1985 Earthquake: 8.1 magnitude
-2017 Earthquake: 8.2 magnitude
-2019 Earthquake: 7.1 magnitude.
According to information from the document "One Hundred Years of Seismicity in Mexico," by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), “on average, in Mexico, 5 earthquakes of magnitude greater than or equal to 6.5 occur every 4 years, which is in agreement with the 160 earthquakes reported in the catalog for the 100-year seismic history of the country. Lower magnitude earthquakes occur more frequently; for example, more than 100 earthquakes with magnitudes greater than or equal to 4.5 are recorded each year, while an earthquake with a magnitude greater than or equal to 7.5 is expected every 10 years.”
Can an earthquake be predicted?
No, currently there is no scientific method capable of accurately indicating the day, time, place, and magnitude of a future earthquake.
What to do if there is an earthquake?
During an earthquake:
- Mantén la calma.
- Aléjate de ventanas, vidrios y objetos que puedan caer.
- Identifica previamente las zonas de menor riesgo de tu vivienda.
- No utilices elevadores durante el movimiento.
- Si estás en un edificio, sigue las indicaciones de evacuación y protección civil.
- Después del sismo, revisa posibles daños y evita regresar a una estructura que presente afectaciones.
[Publicidad]