7.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Mexico's Chiapas Coast, Tsunami Alert Lifted

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas on Friday, near the border with Guatemala, triggering a tsunami alert for several areas of the Pacific that was later lifted. The shallow earthquake was felt strongly from southern Mexico to El Salvador, prompting evacuations of buildings. Authorities have so far reported no casualties or major damage.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicentre was located 48 kilometres southwest of Aquiles Serdán, off the coast of Chiapas, at a depth of 15 kilometres. It also said the main quake was preceded by a smaller earthquake with an epicentre farther offshore. The tremor was felt most strongly in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as in Guatemala and El Salvador, according to journalists on the ground.

In Tapachula, the largest Mexican city near the Guatemalan border, the shaking began mildly before intensifying, forcing people to evacuate buildings. "We were on the second floor when the shaking started. We thought it would stop quickly, but it kept getting stronger, so we went downstairs and evacuated to the courtyard," Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative worker at a public hospital in the city, told the Associated Press.

In Guatemala City, the length of the quake alarmed residents, prompting hundreds of people to rush into the streets during the evening rush hour. In Mexico City, some buildings were seen swaying. However, Mexico’s seismic alert system was not activated because, according to the government, "the energy released by the earthquake during the first few seconds did not exceed the activation thresholds."

Authorities activated emergency response protocols and began inspecting buildings and infrastructure for possible damage. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has maintained its tsunami advisory, warning that waves of between 30 centimetres and one metre could reach the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala. Residents have been urged to stay away from the shoreline due to the risk of strong currents and coastal flooding.

In the Mexican town of Suchiate, on the river that forms the border with Guatemala, authorities are monitoring sea conditions amid the tsunami threat, Mayor Elmer Vázquez Gallardo said.

In a post on X, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had spoken with the governors of Chiapas and Tabasco and that, so far, no damage had been reported in either state. The president added that emergency protocols had also been activated in neighbouring states and urged the public to follow guidance from Civil Protection authorities and the Navy, which has advised people to avoid beaches over the coming hours while assessments of possible structural damage continue.