History

A Lost Chapter of Devastation in the 1920 Mexican Earthquake

Mexico's forgotten 1920 earthquake devastated towns near Xalapa and Veracruz. El Universal newspaper accounts reveal vanished communities, collapsed buildings and a rising river carrying victims.

Mexicanist

Jun 27, 2024 — 5 min read

Bodies found lifeless and placed on the central axis with the intention that relatives would recognize them, in the 1985 earthquake. Credit: AGN

Natural disasters are unexpected and devastating events that disrupt the environment and people's lives. From earthquakes to extreme weather phenomena, these events can cause material damage, human losses and havoc to nature. These catastrophes can also be accompanied by adverse events caused by human activity or a combination of both, with the potential to trigger emergencies. An example of natural disasters are earthquakes, which are natural phenomena that occur due to the release of accumulated energy in the earth's crust. In turn, this release of energy causes vibrations or sudden movements in the earth, which can vary in intensity and duration.

In the case of Mexico, a country with a long seismic history, earthquakes have left a deep mark over the years. Two particularly significant events are the September 19, 1985, and 2017 earthquakes, which still resonate in the collective memory. However, there is one that has been forgotten by many: the earthquake of January 3, 1920.

According to the national seismological service, through the Institute of Geophysics of the UNAM: On January 3, 1920, an earthquake occurred with an approximate magnitude of 6.4, located near the city of Xalapa, Veracruz (19.27 ºN, 97.08 ºW). The earthquake was at 22:25 local time (04:25 UTC on January 4, 1920). It was strongly felt in Mexico City and caused severe damage in the city of Xalapa, Veracruz. This earthquake has been characterized as one of the intraplate cortical earthquakes that has caused more human casualties in Mexico.

To better understand the effects of this disaster, we can turn to the accounts of the time, especially to the newspapers of that time. They described the impact of the event, the news that day by day overwhelmed the inhabitants of towns disadvantaged by the impact of the earthquake; one of the newspapers that recorded the news, reports and events was El Universal.

The news appeared on the front pages of the newspaper on January 4, 1920, it was said that according to the Meteorological Observatory of Tacubaya, three tremors had been registered the day before. The effects of the second tremor registered at 10:25 pm of trepidatory character impacted a great part of the Republic, the first one was reported to have had its epicenter in Acambay, State of Mexico and the second one in Veracruz, until that moment the exact place was not known, it was estimated that these tremors were the ones that caused great human, material and territorial losses, the third one was not mentioned.

After the series of devastating earthquakes that shook the region of Cordoba, Veracruz, many towns were wiped off the map, leaving a trail of desolation and loss in their wake. The front page of El Universal on Monday, May 5 highlighted the tragic disappearance of Coatzautlán, along with other settlements, such as San Juan Coscomatepec, where even the local church disappeared.

The impact of these earthquakes extended beyond the disappearance of towns. The Atoyac River experienced a sudden rise, emanating a strong, sulfurous odor. Shocked, the inhabitants watched as the water carried with it the bodies of unidentified people.

In the following days, on Tuesday, January 6 and Wednesday, January 7, reports revealed the full extent of the tragedy. Cosautlán was particularly hard hit, with most of its structures reduced to rubble and a considerable number of victims. The Oaxaca seismological station placed the epicenters of the tremors in the mountainous area from the Perote chest to the peak of Orizaba, providing a perspective on the extent of the disaster.

On Wednesday, the January 7 newspaper confirmed the disappearance of four additional towns, with devastating losses in Teocelo, where numerous houses and churches were reported destroyed, as well as a considerable death and injury toll. Subsequent reports indicated that the missing towns were: Cosautlán, Barranca Grande, Camusapa, Chichiquita, Xoconoxtle, Tenezapa, Cuautitán, Chilona and Zonotla, belonging to the State of Veracruz, and Saltillo, Ocotlepa, Manzanito, Plata, Chiochontla, Quimixtlan, which are located on the banks of the Huitziolpa River in Puebla.

The tragedy not only left a physical but also emotional aftermath. With the latent fear of seismic aftershocks, many chose not to return to their homes, immersed in uncertainty and grief in the face of the numerous family tragedies that were unleashed.

Natural disasters, whether hazardous weather phenomena or seismic events such as the earthquake of January 3, 1920, in Mexico, have a devastating impact on the environment and people's lives. These events can cause material damage, human loss and damage to nature, leaving a deep imprint on the collective memory.

Recounting the effects of this historical disaster, as recorded through accounts of the time and newspaper reports, gives us a broader understanding of the magnitude of the tragedy. In the specific case of the towns of Córdoba, Veracruz, devastated by a series of earthquakes, the disappearance of entire communities such as Coatzautlán and San Juan Coscomatepec is a poignant reminder of human frailty in the face of the force of nature. As we reflect on these past tragedies, we reaffirm the importance of preparedness, prevention and effective response to natural disasters.

At the Archivo General de la Nación, the Ignacio Cubas Library-Hemeroteca houses a vast number of newspapers that capture historical events in real time. When you consult them, you are transported to past times, as on this occasion, through the pages of the newspapers, we can learn about the effects of the earthquake, as well as the anecdotes of astonishment, fear and sense of danger experienced during the earthquake of January 3, 1920.