CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – An earthquake measuring magnitude 7.3 occurred off Mexico’s southern Pacific coastline on Friday, causing strong tremors that affected Chiapas and nearby nations. The U.S. Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter approximately 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán at a depth of 15.2 kilometers. The quake struck at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. Authorities reported two injuries but no fatalities or extensive structural damages.
Emergency teams initiated inspections across southern Mexico shortly after the tremors subsided. In Tapachula, a woman fell about four meters from an apartment building during the quake, resulting in fractures that required hospital care. Her condition was not life-threatening. Another individual sustained minor injuries from shattered glass inside a business. Civil protection units examined homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and public facilities for cracks, fallen debris, or other signs of damage.
The tremor was felt throughout southern Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador. It also reached Mexico City, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter. Workers evacuated offices and buildings in Guatemala City as the shaking intensified. Mexico City’s seismic alert did not activate because early energy readings stayed below the activation threshold. Emergency services in affected regions opened assessment routes and requested reports of damaged structures, blocked roads, and unsafe utility lines.
Tsunami warning concludes after coastal surveys
Initially, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts indicating waves between 0.3 and one meter could impact areas of Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities advised people to stay away from beaches for six hours. Monitoring teams along the coast observed communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate while the warning was active. Instruments at Puerto Madero recorded a sea level rise of roughly 0.3 meters. The center later lifted the tsunami alert after analyzing data from the affected coastline.
The main quake was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and prompted multiple aftershocks. Early data documented at least 10 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 6. Guatemala enacted national emergency protocols and conducted inspections in western departments close to the Mexican border. Schools in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, and Retalhuleu suspended in-person classes. Road crews also responded to reports of minor landslides and falling debris along western routes in Guatemala.
Authorities report minimal damage across the region
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that initial evaluations revealed no significant damages. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also confirmed there were no serious impacts from the earthquake. Officials in Oaxaca noted residents experienced moderate shaking but without major destruction. Local authorities continued inspections of bridges, hospitals, schools, and utility systems. Emergency officials urged the public to adhere to safety instructions during aftershocks and to refrain from entering compromised structures until trained inspectors verified safety.
The quake took place near a highly active tectonic boundary where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath neighboring plates. This zone frequently produces seismic activity along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities confirmed two injuries and no deaths. 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 assessments proceeded.