CHIAPAS, MEXICO / RankWire.AI / – A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off southern Mexico on Friday, causing tremors across communities in Chiapas, Guatemala, and El Salvador. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter as being 48 kilometers southwest of Aquiles Serdán, with a depth of 15.2 kilometers. The quake occurred at 8:48 a.m. local time, or 14:48 UTC. By Saturday, authorities confirmed no fatalities or major structural damage, with two individuals injured in southern Mexico.
Tapachula civil protection chief Demetrio Martínez indicated that two injuries were linked to the tremor. A woman in her 30s jumped approximately four meters from an apartment building after becoming distressed, suffering fractures and being hospitalized, though officials stated her condition was not life-threatening. Another individual was treated for minor injuries caused by broken glass at a commercial establishment. Emergency crews carried out inspections of buildings, roads, and public infrastructure across the border region.
Initially, the tremor was mild in Tapachula before intensifying, prompting workers and residents to evacuate buildings. Similarly, office workers in Guatemala City evacuated during the morning commute. The shaking was felt as far as Mexico City, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, and residents in El Salvador also experienced the tremor. Mexico City’s seismic alert system did not activate because initial energy readings remained below the threshold, but officials continued inspections after the strongest shaking subsided.
Tsunami alert lifted after coastal monitoring
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning that waves between 0.3 and one meter could reach parts of Mexico and Guatemala. Mexican naval authorities advised the public to stay away from beaches for six hours. Coastal communities near Puerto Madero and Suchiate were monitored while the alert was in effect. Instruments at Puerto Madero detected a sea-level rise of approximately 0.3 meters. The tsunami threat was officially ended at 17:02 UTC after review of available data.
The main earthquake was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and was followed by several strong aftershocks. Seismic data recorded at least 10 aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.9 to 6 during the initial monitoring period. Guatemala’s disaster response agency activated national 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.
Limited damage reported after regional assessments
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that early reports indicated no significant damage. Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Morales also confirmed no serious impact from the quake. In Oaxaca, Governor Salomón Jara reported residents experienced moderate shaking without major damage. Local officials coordinated assessments of hospitals, schools, bridges, and utility networks. Civil protection teams urged residents to report cracks, falling debris, or blocked roads through official channels.
The quake occurred near the Mexico-Guatemala border, an area where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American and Caribbean plates, a tectonic setting that frequently triggers earthquakes along Mexico’s southern Pacific coast. By Saturday, authorities had verified two injuries but no deaths. No widespread damage had been reported in Mexico, Guatemala, or El Salvador. The tsunami warning was lifted, although seismic agencies continued to monitor aftershocks and update data related to the event.