CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Friday, producing strong tremors felt across Chiapas and neighboring nations. The U.S. Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter roughly 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán. The quake was recorded at a depth of 15.2 kilometers. The event occurred at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. Authorities confirmed two injuries but no fatalities or significant structural damage.
Emergency teams promptly began inspections throughout southern Mexico once the tremors ceased. In Tapachula, a woman leapt about four meters from an apartment building during the quake. She sustained fractures and was taken to hospital. Officials stated her condition was not life-threatening. Another individual suffered minor injuries from shattered glass inside a business. Civil protection units checked homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and public structures for cracks, fallen debris, and other signs of damage.
People across southern Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador experienced the shaking. The tremors also reached Mexico City, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. Workers evacuated offices and other buildings in Guatemala City as the quake intensified. Mexico City’s seismic alert system did not activate because early energy readings stayed below the activation threshold. Authorities in affected regions opened emergency assessment routes and urged residents to report damaged buildings, blocked roads, and unsafe utility lines.
Tsunami warning concludes after coastal evaluations
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that waves between 0.3 and one meter could impact parts of Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities advised the public to stay away from beaches for six hours. Coastal monitoring teams observed communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate while the warning was active. Instruments at Puerto Madero recorded a sea level rise of approximately 0.3 meters. The center subsequently lifted the tsunami alert after analyzing data from the affected coastlines.
The main quake was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and was followed by multiple strong aftershocks. Early data indicated at least 10 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 6. Guatemala activated its national emergency protocols and conducted inspections in western departments near the Mexican border. Education authorities suspended in-person classes in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, and Retalhuleu. Road crews also assessed reports of minor landslides and falling debris along routes in western Guatemala.
Authorities report minimal regional damage
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that initial evaluations found no major damage. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also reported no severe impact from the quake. Officials in Oaxaca mentioned residents experienced moderate shaking with no significant destruction. Local authorities continued inspecting bridges, hospitals, schools, and utility networks. Emergency officials advised the public to adhere to safety instructions during aftershocks and to avoid damaged buildings until experts completed structural assessments.
The quake occurred near a highly active fault zone where the Cocos Plate is subducting beneath neighboring tectonic plates. This region regularly experiences seismic activity along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities confirmed two injuries and no fatalities. No widespread structural damage was reported in Mexico, Guatemala, or El Salvador. Coastal monitoring indicated no ongoing tsunami threat. Seismic agencies kept recording aftershocks and updating technical data as regional inspections continued.