A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of southern Mexico on Friday, sending a tsunami warning across the Pacific and forcing evacuations in Guatemala and El Salvador. The quake hit at 08:49 local time (14:49 GMT) near the fishing town of Puerto Madero in Chiapas, at a depth of 15.2km, according to the United States Geological Survey. Hours later, the US Tsunami Warning Center recorded waves 0.3m (1.1 feet) above tide level in Puerto Madero and Chiapas, but the warning was eventually lifted.
Mexico's navy secretary, Admiral Raymundo Morales, told a press conference there was "no serious impact", but advised people to stay away from beaches. The US Tsunami Warning System had earlier warned of possible "hazardous tsunami waves" along the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala, forecasting waves up to 1m above tide level. It later said the threat had passed, but urged people in affected areas to "remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea".
“Magnitude 7.3 earthquake off Mexico triggers tsunami warning, but no casualties or major damage reported.”
Governor Salomón Jara Cruz, of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, said the quake was felt with "moderate intensity" but no significant damage had been reported. Eduardo Ramírez, governor of Chiapas, also reported no serious impact, but said he had instructed his cabinet to suspend administrative activities and urged the private sector to do the same. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged people to stay away from beaches for six hours, writing on X: "Following the 7.4 magnitude earthquake southwest of Huixtla... I spoke with the governors of Chiapas and Tabasco, states that report no damage at this time."
In Guatemala, the tremor shook buildings, triggering evacuations and causing some people to run from their homes, Reuters reported. Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo said the country's emergency management agency had been deployed after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake with its epicentre in Quetzaltenango. No fatalities have been recorded so far, he added. "I call on the population to remain calm and to follow the recommendations," he said on X.
A series of aftershocks, with magnitudes between 4.7 and 6, have been recorded. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast waves of less than 0.3m above tide level along the coasts of El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Honduras. "Persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown, be crushed by debris in the water, or be swept out to sea," NOAA said. The waves lasted for 12 minutes in Puerto Madero and 28 minutes in Chiapas.
The relatively limited impact of the quake appears to reflect the effectiveness of early warning systems and rapid response protocols across the region. But with aftershocks still rattling the Pacific coast, authorities remain on alert for any further developments.
