2010 Mexico Earthquake

On Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010, a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck near Campo Mosqueda, just north of San Felipe in Baja California.

First-hand accounts described apocalyptic scenes: "We had just gotten out of the boat and the ground started shaking so bad that I grabbed a tree to hold myself up. I looked at the two trucks and they were bouncing side to side practically coming off the ground. Right next to those trucks was my garage and I watched it collapse right before my eyes."

The ground opened up into massive fissures, some up to six feet wide. Water inexplicably surged up from below, flooding the entire area and raising the level of the Rio Hardy by four to five feet. Many homes, docks, and patios along the river were severely damaged or flattened completely.

Locals and visitors alike found themselves stranded as parts of Highway 5 were split wide open and buckled upwards, turning a routine holiday weekend into a fight to escape the mud and aftershocks. The photos below capture the immediate aftermath as people worked to brace structures, clear rubble, and assess the widespread devastation.