Puerto Madero, Mexico. A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck offshore near Mexico’s southern state of Chiapas on Friday, shaking buildings in Guatemala and El Salvador, with authorities reporting no immediate casualties or major damage.
Mexican and Guatemalan authorities activated emergency protocols, while tsunami officials warned of potentially hazardous waves along nearby coastlines.
Emergency response
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said emergency protocols were activated and that no issues had been reported in Chiapas or the neighbouring state of Tabasco.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said there were no deaths. In parts of Guatemala, residents and office workers left buildings and gathered in the streets.
Earthquake details
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake struck at a depth of 15.2 kilometres, revising an earlier assessment of a magnitude 7.4 quake at a depth of 10 kilometres.
The epicentre was in the sea, 58 kilometres from the coastal town of Puerto Madero.
A series of aftershocks, including some with magnitudes between 5 and 6, was felt in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Tsunami warning
The US Tsunami Warning System said hazardous tsunami waves were possible along coastlines within 300 kilometres of the epicentre.
The tsunami warning centre said waves between 0.3 metres and 1 metre above tide level were possible on some coasts in Mexico and Guatemala.
Mexico’s Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales said water levels were not expected to rise by more than half a metre, but advised people to stay away from beaches.
“There is no problem, no serious maritime impact,” Morales said during a government press conference. “We only expect some beaches to see a rise in water level of up to half a meter due to the tsunami effect from the earthquake.”
Impact in Guatemala
In Guatemala City, buildings shook and some residents ran from their homes into the streets, according to a Reuters witness.
Local media showed staff evacuating a government building as security protocols were activated.