Seismologists report over 800 earthquakes in Nuevo León since 2006—up from just 40 in the preceding 56 years—and urge immediate revisions to construction protocols to prevent structural damage.
A dramatic uptick in seismic activity across Nuevo León has prompted seismologists to call for an urgent overhaul of regional building standards. According to Juan Carlos Montalvo Arrieta, doctor of seismology and research professor at the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León (UANL), the state has recorded more than 800 earthquakes since January 1, 2006—nearly a 58-fold increase compared with the 40 quakes documented between 1950 and December 31, 2005.
Montalvo Arrieta attributes this surge not to a sudden rise in tectonic unrest, but to advances in fault detection and monitoring. “With the expansion of our seismic network and the identification of previously unmapped active faults, we’re now capturing moderate tremors that once went unnoticed,” he explained. Despite magnitudes remaining relatively moderate—so far topping out at 5.0 on the Richter scale—these events have already exposed vulnerabilities in local infrastructure.
Historically, northeastern Mexico has been classified by the Federal Electricity Commission’s (CFE) seismic regionalization map as a low-frequency, low-magnitude zone. However, revisions to the CFE’s manuals now acknowledge that the region may experience stronger quakes more often than once believed. “Recent editions of the seismic manuals reflect that northeastern Mexico’s activity is more frequent and potentially more powerful,” Montalvo Arrieta noted.
For decades, Nuevo León’s relative seismic calm bred a sense of complacency among engineers, architects and regulators. “We built under the assumption that serious earthquakes were a remote possibility,” said the expert. This laissez-faire approach has had tangible consequences: cracking walls, compromised foundations and, in some cases, structural damage in buildings not designed to withstand even moderate shaking.
In light of these findings, specialists are urging a comprehensive review of the state’s infrastructure. Montalvo Arrieta recommends that Nuevo León’s authorities update construction protocols, strengthen enforcement of seismic-resistant design and adapt national regulations to local fault activity. “Although large earthquakes remain rare, even moderate tremors have caused avoidable damage,” he warned. “By revising codes now, we can mitigate risks before a major event tests our buildings.”
Local municipalities are already taking notice. Earlier this year, Monterrey’s Urban Development Department announced plans to collaborate with UANL researchers to map fault lines with higher precision and assess the seismic performance of both public and private structures. Similar studies are underway in General Terán, Los Ramones and Montemorelos—towns that have felt notable quakes in recent months.
Residents, too, are growing more mindful of seismic preparedness. Community workshops on earthquake drills have seen rising attendance, and some homeowners are retrofitting older constructions with reinforcements such as shear walls and base isolators. Yet experts agree that broader regulatory action is essential to protect the state’s rapidly expanding urban areas.
“The cost of updating building codes is an investment in public safety,” Montalvo Arrieta emphasized. “It’s far less expensive to build right from the start than to repair or replace damaged structures after a significant earthquake strikes.”
As Nuevo León grapples with its evolving seismic profile, the call to modernize construction standards reflects a wider trend across Mexico: recognizing and adapting to risks that, until recently, lay outside historic expectations. For a region accustomed to counting its tremors on one hand, the new reality demands both vigilance and decisive policy action.
