A powerful earthquake struck the southern Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday, close to the border with Guatemala. The tremor was felt from Mexico City to El Salvador. Authorities have not yet reported any serious damage or casualties.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.3. Its epicenter was located 48 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Aquiles Serdan, near the Chiapas coast, at a depth of 15 kilometers (9 miles). A smaller quake had preceded it, with its epicenter slightly further in the ocean.
In Tapachula, a city on Mexico’s southern border, the tremor started mild but progressively intensified. Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative worker at a local public hospital, described the experience, saying, “We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard.”
Guatemala City saw residents alarmed by the quake’s duration. Many rushed onto the streets during rush hour as the workday began. In certain areas of Mexico City, buildings shook, but the earthquake alert was not activated. The government noted that “the energy radiated by the earthquake during the first few seconds did not exceed the activation thresholds.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reported no damage according to preliminary assessments. The navy advised avoiding beaches for six hours due to potential tsunami risks. Coastal areas in the town of Suchiate, near the river separating Mexico from Guatemala, are under tsunami risk monitoring, as stated by Mayor Elmer Vázquez Gallardo.
The area is often affected by earthquakes, some of which are fatal. Earlier in the year, a significant earthquake impacted southern and central Mexico, resulting in two deaths. A 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 2017 claimed hundreds of lives in Mexico City.
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