Emergency Net for Earthquake in Central Mexico

Following the magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Tuesday the IARU member society, Federacion Mexicana de Radio Experimentadores or FMRE, had its National Emergency Net activated.

This is on 7.060 MHz, 3.690 MHz and 14.120 MHz as well as IRLP reflector 9200, channel 08. The epicenter in the central Mexico state of Puebla at 1814 UTC on Tuesday was southeast of Mexico City, which felt it.

Early reports had more than 120 people killed as the ‘quake toppled buildings and rescuers are searched the rubble for survivors.

FMRE President Al Tomez XE2O reports the National Emergency Net has been handling traffic to make up for the loss of some mobile phone networks.

He noted that the latest earthquake was on the anniversary of the 1985 magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck the Mexico City, killing some 9,500 people.

Since then Mexico has prepared for seismic events. A week ago, a magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck off Mexico’s southern coast. It killed more than 60 people and caused considerable damage.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee