M6.5 earthquake near Ario de Rosales, Michoacán

What happened

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck 5 km ENE of Churumuco de Morelos, Mexico on 22 May 1997, 07:50 UTC at a depth of 70 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Ario de Rosales, about 59 km away in Michoacán, Mexico.