Fact or Fiction: Did Mexican Soccer Fans Cause an Earthquake?

Mexican fans set off artificial earthquake sensors during their team’s surprise win! One seismic expert stated that ebullient soccer fans created a man-made earthquake in Mexico City on Sunday, June 17. It may be nothing but noise and fury after the Mexico team scored a surprise victory over World Cup defending champions Germany.

Was It an Earthquake or Not?

The tweet by Mexico’s Institute of Geologic and Atmospheric Investigations mentioned that: “Artificial quake in Mexico City due to celebration of goal by the Mexican team in the game against Germany during the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

According to Mexico’s Institute of Geologic and Atmospheric Investigations, the earthquake sensors in Mexico City “originated artificially” and occurred “because of mass jumping” while celebrating Mexico’s game-winning goal. The team scored 1-0 against Germany, the defending World Cup champions.

The event cannot be measured in magnitude, which is why they are not called earthquakes. If it occurs they have to be called by the word ‘artificial’ to define it is not a geographical event.

Mexico Artificial Earthquake

According to Suzan Van der Lee, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Northwestern University in Illinois, available seismic records did not support that it was a natural quake. Suzan told the news website Newswise, “The signal shown could be related to a family or two reacting to the goal, but the signals certainly do not stem from a mass celebration.” Further Suzan continued “Convincing reports about fans in mass celebration creating seismic signals are made near stadiums where fans gather — not from people watching TV at home.”

The seismometers which reported the earthquake are known as Raspberry Shake devices. These devices are used by amateurs and installed in the basements of the buildings, Van der Lee said.