Feature: Society wakes up in Mexico by powerful earthquake 30 years ago

A little past 7 in the morning on Sept. 19, 1985, a powerful 8.1-magnitude earthquake hit Mexico's capital, leveling high-rise buildings and killing over 6,000 people.

But the historic temblor, rated "violent" on the Mercalli intensity index, didn't just destroy numerous neighborhoods, it also built social awareness.

"The 1985 earthquake represents a moment in time for the population when civic participation was sparked for the first time," says Lorena Botello, curator of an exhibit marking the 30th anniversary of the event that changed not only the face, but also the cultural landscape of Mexico City.

Titled "The Days of the Earthquake," the exhibit at the city's downtown Museo del Estanquillo showcases a collection of artifacts that attest to the grassroots activism that gained momentum in the wake of the tragedy.

"This exhibit is not about the natural phenomenon, it's about the dimension of civic engagement" that followed, Botello adds.

The magnitude of the damage was so great that it appeared to overwhelm the authorities, leading residents to spontaneously organize to help in the search and rescue of friends, neighbors and family members trapped in the rubble.

For many, it was their first taste of community activism, or as Botello puts it, "society woke up."

The late Mexican author and intellectual Carlos Monsivais, the inspiration behind both the museum and this exhibit, wrote at the time: "By Sept. 20, nearly 150,000 (voluntary) brigade members between the age of 15 and 25 were in the streets" aiding the efforts.

Monsivais, a regular contributor to dailies who closely chronicled the events as they unfolded, wrote of the housewives who cooked for the rescue workers, students who sifted through cracked concrete, doctors and nurses who stopped to offer their services.

"As of the 19th, the city knew what it was to take power," wrote Monsivais, adding the experience "by far transcended the limits of mere solidarity."

Long after the dust had settled, the aftershocks of the seismic shift were felt in Mexico's ensuing elections.

Three years later, the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), in power since its founding in 1929, was for the first time in its history in danger of losing the presidential race.

In fact, by most accounts, it did lose to opposition candidate Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, but tampered with the ballots to retain its hold on the top office. The PRI eventually lost in 2000, after more than 70 years of rule.

"The city was destroyed, but thanks to the participation of the people, it was rebuilt," not just physically, but "also metaphorically," Botello said. Enditem