CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off southern Mexico on Friday, shaking communities across Chiapas, Guatemala and El Salvador. The U.S. Geological Survey placed the epicenter 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán. It measured the depth at 15.2 kilometers. The quake occurred at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. Authorities reported no deaths or major structural damage by Saturday. Two people sustained injuries in southern Mexico.
Tapachula civil protection chief Demetrio Martínez reported two injuries linked to the shaking. A woman in her 30s jumped about four meters from an apartment building after becoming distressed. She suffered fractures and went to a hospital, but officials said her life was not in danger. Another person received treatment for a minor injury caused by broken glass at a business. Emergency teams inspected buildings, roads and public facilities across the border region.
The tremor began mildly in Tapachula before growing stronger, prompting workers and residents to leave buildings. People also evacuated offices in Guatemala City during the morning commute. The shaking reached Mexico City, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, and residents also felt it in El Salvador. Mexico City’s seismic alert did not sound because the initial energy readings stayed below activation thresholds. Officials continued inspections after the strongest movement ended.
Tsunami threat lifted after coastal monitoring
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially warned that waves between 0.3 and one meter could reach parts of Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities advised people to remain away from beaches for six hours. Coastal officials monitored communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate while the alert remained active. Monitoring instruments at Puerto Madero recorded a sea-level rise of about 0.3 meters. The center ended the tsunami threat at 17:02 UTC after reviewing available observations.
The main earthquake followed a smaller offshore tremor and produced a series of strong aftershocks. Seismic data showed at least 10 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.9 to 6 during the early monitoring period. Guatemala’s disaster agency activated national response procedures and checked western departments for damage. The education ministry suspended in-person classes in San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu. Authorities also examined reports of minor landslides along roads in western Guatemala.
Regional inspections find limited damage
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said preliminary reports showed no significant damage. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also reported no serious impact from the earthquake. In Oaxaca, Governor Salomón Jara said residents felt moderate shaking without major reported damage. Local governments opened assessment routes and checked hospitals, schools, bridges and utility networks. Civil protection teams asked residents to report cracks, falling debris or blocked roads through official emergency channels.
The earthquake struck near the Mexico-Guatemala border, where the Cocos Plate moves beneath the North American and Caribbean plates. That tectonic setting generates frequent earthquakes along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities had confirmed two injuries but no fatalities. Officials in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador had not reported widespread damage. The tsunami threat had ended, while seismic agencies continued recording aftershocks and updating event data.