[TXnMA]

In Mexico, the difference in damage may well be a measure of inferior construction -- as well as soil conditions (like soil liquefaction in filled areas of San Francisco & Mexico City).

Also keep in mind, that due to the the logarithmic nature of the Richter Scale, tenths are really significant when you pass 7.0:

IOW, an increase from 7.0 to 7.5 is a greater increase than from 6.0 to 7.0...

[advertising guy]

that’s what she said

[DoughtyOne]

I think that is part of it.

I also think tectonic plate dynamics may play into it.

Is there something about their fault lines down there that cause movement to be more broadly felt?