CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off southern Mexico on Friday, causing tremors across communities in Chiapas, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The U.S. Geological Survey located the epicenter 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán, with the quake occurring at a depth of 15.2 kilometers. The seismic event took place at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. By Saturday, officials reported no fatalities or significant structural damage, though two individuals were injured in southern Mexico.
Demetrio Martínez, head of civil protection in Tapachula, confirmed two injuries related to the tremor. One woman in her 30s leapt approximately four meters from an apartment building after becoming distressed, sustaining fractures and being hospitalized, though her condition was not life-threatening. Another person was treated for a minor injury caused by shattered glass at a commercial establishment. Emergency crews carried out inspections of buildings, roads, and public infrastructure throughout the border region.
Initially mild in Tapachula, the shaking intensified, prompting residents and workers to evacuate buildings. Similarly, offices in Guatemala City were evacuated during the morning commute. The tremor was felt as far as Mexico City, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, and residents of El Salvador also reported feeling it. The seismic alert in Mexico City did not activate because the initial energy levels remained below the threshold, but officials continued inspecting structures after the strongest shaking subsided.
Tsunami risk eliminated following coastal assessments
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning 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 communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate were monitored while the alert was active, with instruments at Puerto Madero recording a sea-level rise of approximately 0.3 meters. The tsunami warning was lifted at 17:02 UTC after evaluating all available data.
The main earthquake was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and a series of strong aftershocks. Seismic records indicated at least 10 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.9 to 6 during the initial monitoring phase. Guatemala’s disaster response agencies activated their procedures and conducted damage assessments in western departments. The education ministry suspended in-person classes in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, and Retalhuleu, while authorities also checked reports of minor landslides affecting roads in western Guatemala.
Limited damage found after regional evaluations
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that early reports indicated no significant damage. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also reported that the impact was not severe. In Oaxaca, Governor Salomón Jara noted that residents experienced moderate shaking but no major damage. Local authorities opened assessment routes and inspected hospitals, schools, bridges, and utility networks. Civil protection teams urged residents to report any cracks, falling debris, or blocked roads via official emergency channels.
The quake occurred near the Mexico-Guatemala border, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American and Caribbean plates. This tectonic activity frequently triggers earthquakes along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities confirmed two injuries but no deaths. No widespread damage had been reported in Mexico, Guatemala, or El Salvador. The tsunami threat had been lifted, and seismic agencies continued to monitor aftershocks and update event data.