CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near Mexico’s southern Pacific coast on Friday, shaking a wide area across the region. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán in Chiapas. The quake began at 8:48 a.m. local time and reached a depth of 15.2 kilometers. Officials confirmed two injuries, but they reported no deaths or extensive structural damage.
Civil protection teams deployed across southern Mexico to examine homes, hospitals, schools, roads and public buildings. In Tapachula, a woman jumped about four meters from an apartment building during the shaking. She suffered fractures and received hospital care, though officials said her injuries did not threaten her life. Broken glass injured another person inside a local business. Emergency workers also checked utility systems and cleared areas where debris created possible hazards.
Strong movement reached several parts of Chiapas and spread into Guatemala and El Salvador. Residents also felt the earthquake in Mexico City, far from the offshore epicenter. Office workers left buildings in Guatemala City as the shaking grew stronger. Mexico City’s seismic alert remained silent because early readings did not meet the activation level. Authorities advised residents to expect aftershocks and avoid structures showing visible cracks or other damage.
Coastal warning ends after sea checks
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially said waves from 0.3 to one meter could affect Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities told coastal residents to remain away from beaches for six hours. Officials watched the shoreline near Puerto Madero and Suchiate while the threat remained active. A monitoring station at Puerto Madero measured a sea-level increase of about 0.3 meters. The tsunami threat ended at 17:02 UTC after officials reviewed coastal observations.
A smaller offshore tremor occurred before the main earthquake, which produced a continuing series of aftershocks. Early seismic records showed at least 10 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 4.9 to 6. Guatemala activated emergency protocols and inspected communities near the Mexican border. Education officials suspended classroom teaching in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu. Road crews also checked reports of minor landslides and fallen material along routes in western Guatemala.
Authorities find no widespread destruction
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said initial reviews showed no significant damage from the earthquake. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also reported no serious effects during the first national assessment. Oaxaca authorities recorded moderate shaking without major damage. Local governments continued examining bridges, health facilities, schools and power networks. Response teams asked the public to report damaged buildings and blocked roads through official channels rather than entering unsafe areas.
The earthquake occurred near an active tectonic zone along Mexico’s southern Pacific margin. In that area, the Cocos Plate moves beneath neighboring plates and generates frequent seismic activity. By Saturday, regional authorities had recorded two injuries and no fatalities. Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador had not identified widespread structural losses. Coastal monitoring showed no remaining tsunami danger, while seismic teams continued tracking aftershocks and refining technical measurements from the event.