Mexico Earthquake Strikes Along Seismic 'Ring of Fire'

Patients are looked after by their relatives after they were evacuated from a hospital following an earthquake in Acapulco, in Guerrero state, April 18 — Patients are looked after by their relatives after they were evacuated from a hospital following an earthquake in Acapulco, in Guerrero state, 18 April

On 18 April, a powerful earthquake shook Mexico City, shaking buildings and sending people fleeing on to the street.

The magnitude 7.2 quake centred on the south western state of Guerrero, near the famous resort of Acapulco.

There were no reports of significant damage or injuries, but the quake is one of the largest to have struck Mexico in recent years.

City workers remove the rubble of a wall that collapsed in an earthquake in Mexico City April 18 — City workers remove the rubble of a wall that collapsed in an earthquake in Mexico City, 18 April

It is the latest in a series to have struck the region known as the "Ring of Fire" in recent weeks.

Stretching in a 40,000 mile horseshoe shape around the edge of the Pacific basin, the region is the source of 90% of the world's earthquakes.

In recent weeks, a spate of quakes have struck as far apart as Nicaragua and Los Angeles.

Experts believe they are not directly related, but are the result of a seperate seismic activity, but they have caused devastation across the region.

Solomon Islands

On 13 April, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the second powerful quake to have struck the islands in as many days.

There were no reported injuries or major damage, but fears were sparked of a repeat of the 8.0 magnitude quake which struck in February 2013, causing a tsunami that killed several people on the Santa Cruz islands, which are part of the Solomon Islands group.

Partially destroyed houses are seen after a tsunami hit in the Venga village in Solomon Islands on February 6 — Partially destroyed houses are seen after a tsunami hit in the Venga village in Solomon Islands on 6 February

Nicaragua

A series of quakes in the Latin American country after 15 April led authorities to place the entire country on "extreme red alert". There were fears that a fault that caused a devatastating quake that left approximately 10,000 dead in 1972 had been reactivated.

The quakes and aftershocks which have ranged from 5.1 to 6.7 in magnitude have so far left two dead and dozens injured.

Children search for belongings in a building after President Daniel Ortega declared it unsafe in Managua, following an earthquake on April 15. — Children search for belongings in a building after President Daniel Ortega declared it unsafe in Managua, following an earthquake on 15 April

Chile

On April 1, six people were killed and tens of thousands of people forced to flee their homes when a force 8.2 earthquake northwest of the mining region of Iquique.

Waves 2.1 metres high struck coastal regions, and a tsunami warning was issued across stretches of the South American Pacific coast.

People walk next to a crack along a damaged road leading to Alto Hospicio commune, after a series of aftershocks, in the northern port of Iquique April 3 — People walk next to a crack along a damaged road leading to Alto Hospicio commune, after a series of aftershocks, in the northern port of Iquique, 3 April

Los Angeles, California

On 29 March, a 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck LA.

Though there were no injuries or damage, southern California has long been prepared for a devastating quake, with much of the state sitting on the Pacific tectonic plate.

In 1994, a 6.7 magnitude quake left 60 people dead.