Under the rubble: disaster risk management and accountability after the Mexico City earthquake of September 19, 2017

After thirty-two years of the devastating earthquake in Mexico City in 1985, the city was again shaken by the consequences of the 7.1 Mw earthquake that struck central Mexico on September 19, 2017. The impact of the disaster nationwide was 369 deaths, 6000 injured, 256,000 total affected people, and damages in the order of US$ 6 billion. Although the earthquake’s impact figures are not consistent yet, some sources indicate that in Mexico City alone, the earthquake caused 228 deaths, 44 collapsed buildings, and 73,000 damaged properties, including 5765 homes and 973 schools. The effect on the economy was estimated at between 0.1 and 0.3% of GDP for 2018, and the funds needed for reconstruction were calculated at more than US$3.4 billion. Local government responses to the earthquake were dosed and limited to immediate actions based on a traditional and militarized perspective. Once again, after the quake hit, city authorities and urban planners introduced several actions and initiatives to rethink how disasters can be managed in the city. Regular assessment of impacts on the security of the facilities at risk, liability, damages and losses initiatives, changes to the law, and purges in the local civil protection offices were carried on. As we argue in this article, all these actions are increasingly seen as a cause of serious concerns about the accountability of the authorities responsible for civil protection and risk management at the different levels of government. This article briefly introduces the renewed interest that has emerged in recent years around the globe, including Mexico City, regarding the increasing demands for accountability related to disasters. In the second section, the methodology of the article is described. It will then examine the results and discussion of the analysis of the disaster triggered by the earthquake of September 19, 2017. This included three major topics: (1) background from a hazard perspective and a general characterization of earthquake exposure, (2) damages and losses, and (3) insights into disaster management. The final section concerning closing remarks aims to reflect on future challenges for disaster accountability and community involvement in disaster risk management.