CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake hit off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Friday, causing strong tremors across Chiapas and nearby nations. The U.S. Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter roughly 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán. The quake registered at a depth of 15.2 kilometers. It occurred at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. Authorities confirmed two injuries but no fatalities or major structural damage.
Emergency teams initiated inspections across southern Mexico shortly after the tremors ceased. In Tapachula, a woman leapt approximately four meters from an apartment building during the quake. She sustained fractures and was hospitalized. Officials stated her condition was not life-threatening. Another individual suffered minor injuries from shattered glass inside a commercial premises. Civil protection units examined homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and public structures for cracks, debris, and other signs of damage.
Residents experienced the earthquake throughout southern Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The tremors also reached Mexico City, despite being hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. Workers evacuated offices and other buildings in Guatemala City as the shaking intensified. Mexico City’s seismic alarm system was not triggered because early energy readings remained below the activation threshold. Authorities in affected zones initiated emergency assessment routes and asked residents to report damaged infrastructure, blocked roads, and unsafe utility connections.
Tsunami warning concludes after coast inspections
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued warnings that waves between 0.3 and one meter could impact sections of Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities recommended staying away from beaches for six hours. Coastal teams monitored communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate during the active warning. Instruments at Puerto Madero detected a sea-level rise of roughly 0.3 meters. The tsunami threat was later canceled after the center reviewed observations from the affected coastline.
The main quake was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and triggered multiple strong aftershocks. Early data recorded at least 10 aftershocks with magnitudes from 4.9 to 6. Guatemala activated its national emergency protocols and inspected departments in the western regions near the Mexican border. Educational authorities suspended in-person classes in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, and Retalhuleu. Road crews also examined reports of minor landslides and falling debris along routes in western Guatemala.
Authorities report minimal regional impact
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that initial evaluations revealed no significant damage. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also reported no serious effects from the quake. Officials in Oaxaca mentioned that residents experienced moderate shaking without major damage. Local authorities continued inspections of bridges, hospitals, schools, and utility networks. Emergency officials urged the public to adhere to official safety instructions during aftershocks and advised residents to stay away from compromised structures until experts completed safety assessments.
The quake took place near a highly active fault zone where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath neighboring tectonic plates. This region frequently experiences seismic activity along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities confirmed two injuries and no fatalities. No widespread structural damage had been reported in Mexico, Guatemala, or El Salvador. Coastal monitoring indicated no ongoing tsunami threat. Seismological agencies continued to record aftershocks and update technical data as regional inspections progressed.