A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Mexico on Monday, September 19, destroyed eight Catholic churches in the state of Michoacán, including one in Tangamandapio.
The earthquake that occurred at 1:05 p.m. local time, according to the Facebook page “Diocese of Zamora, Michoacán: history, art and tradition,” destroyed multiple places of worship but spared the lives of the devout.
For the sake of the welfare and safety of the pilgrims who visit these locations, as well as “to restore [the churches’] former look,” the diocese advised, “let’s be ready to help our parishes in restoring the damage caused.”
The following harm was reported:
The Tangamandapio church known as St. James the Apostle’s façade developed a crack.
In Tactzcuaro, the façade of St. Michael the Archangel Church partly collapsed.
The Cotija St. Joseph Chapel’s side entrance also sustained damage.
Corupo’s St. Francis of Assisi church’s interior ceiling partly collapsed.
There were cracks in the crucifix on the bell tower of the St. Francis of Assisi church in Zamora.
St. James the Apostle church in Sahuayo had several wall and threshold components falling.
The sanctuary and nave of the St. Peter the Apostle church in the town of Paracho were both damaged by loose cement blocks that fell on them.
The Lord of Miracles Shrine at San Juan Nuevo’s belltowers developed several fractures, which prompted the local priests to shut the church’s main entrance.
Years since previous significant earthquakes
The town of Coalcomán in the state of Michoacán was 49 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake.
Two persons are said to have already passed away.
The earthquake happened on the anniversary of two previous significant quakes that occurred in 1985 and 2017, all of which killed a large number of people and were felt in various regions of the nation, including Mexico City.
A nationwide earthquake exercise had been conducted one hour before to Monday’s earthquake, according to the BBC, in honour of the anniversary of the two major earthquakes.
There was also a warning from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.