Some minutes before midnight of September 7th in 2017 (08/09/2017, 04:49:17 UTC) occurred one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in Mexico. Estimated magnitude (Mw=8.2) is only compared to the magnitude of 1932 Jalisco-Colima earthquake.

Now, the rupture occurred in Tehuantepec gulf around 150 km far from the coast of Chiapas State.

Magnitude not was the only surprise, its focal mechanism and the reported depth showed that this earthquake was not a subduction event but a normal fault earthquake (related to an extensive regime). Severe damage was reported especially in Tehuantepec Isthmus and in the coastal zone of Chiapas. Relevant disturbances were reported even within hundreds of kilometers away from epicenter in cities such as Villahermosa and Puebla. This earthquake unfortunately killed 96 people, most of them in Juchitán City.

Civil protection procedures were activated and the attention to victims and affected population was the focus for several days. Non-gubernamental institutions and people in general were organized to collect funds, food and other important things, and sent them to the most affected areas.

Within this context and as every year, 12 days after, on September 19th, the activities for the sad commemoration of the 1985 earthquake were being carried out. As part of a national earthquake drill, at 11:00 AM, alarms sounded in Mexico City and other parts of the country. Nobody could not imagine at that time, that two hours later, at 01:14 PM (19/09/2017, 19:14:39), an earthquake would occur and could affect this megacity and important cities of Morelos, Puebla and México States.

This earthquake killed 369 persons and an important number of buildings suffered moderate to severe damages.

Damage to the colonial heritage was remarkable, and even to some prehispanic buildings (e.g. Archeological site of Xochicalco).

There were a lot of reports of notable changes in the prolific hydrological system of Morelos state and some of its emblematic spas.

Due to the relevance of these two earthquakes, the Geofisica Internacional journal invited the scientific community to present papers related to any aspect of these earthquakes. Articles will be published in a dedicated section along some issues during this year.

Invited editors acknowledge the invitation to coordinate efforts and hope that the scientific community will benefit from the information and discussions expressed in the published papers.