The alarma sismica originates from Mexico's Seismic Alert System, SASMEX, which broadcasts an alert tone and voice warning through radio, television and public loudspeakers in Mexico City and other areas when an earthquake is detected. The system was developed after the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake and became operational in the early 1990s. Online, the familiar siren was lifted from recordings of real alerts and drills and repurposed as a meme sound, where its official, alarming tone is used ironically for minor crises, jumpscares and exaggerated reactions.