Strong Earthquake Hits Southern Mexico Near Guatemala

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck the southern Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday. It occurred near the border with Guatemala and was felt as far as Mexico City and El Salvador. Despite the quake’s strength, no severe damage or casualties have been reported so far.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified the epicenter as 48 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Aquiles Serdan, close to the Chiapas coast, at a depth of 15 kilometers (9 miles). A smaller quake with a slightly different epicenter preceded it, occurring further out in the ocean.

In Tapachula, a key city at Mexico’s southern border, the earthquake started mildly but grew in intensity. Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative employee at a public hospital, shared her experience: “We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard.”

Residents of Guatemala City experienced fear due to the quake’s duration, with many taking to the streets during rush hour as the workday began. In parts of Mexico City, some buildings creaked and shook. However, the earthquake alert system did not activate because, as the government explained, “the energy radiated by the earthquake during the first few seconds did not exceed the activation thresholds.”

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that initial reports indicated no damage. The navy advised staying away from beaches for six hours due to the tsunami risk. The coastal areas in Suchiate, a town along the river separating Mexico from Guatemala, are under watch for potential tsunamis, according to Mayor Elmer Vázquez Gallardo.

This region frequently experiences earthquakes, some of which can be deadly. Earlier this year, a significant quake affected southern and central Mexico, resulting in two deaths. In 2017, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City led to hundreds of fatalities.