A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Chiapas in southern Mexico on Friday, sending strong tremors across neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador. Despite the quake's intensity the authorities reported no immediate casualties or major structural damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the quake hit at a depth of 15.2 kilometers (9.4 miles) with its epicenter located in the Pacific Ocean of 58 kilometers from the coastal town of Puerto Madero.
Following the tremor, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System warned of potential waves up to one meter. However, Mexico's Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales reassured the public that water levels were only expected to rise by about half a meter. He advised residents to avoid beaches temporarily but confirmed there was no severe maritime threat.
Both Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo activated emergency protocols and confirmed no loss of life in their respective nations.
In Guatemala City, the prolonged shaking prompted swift evacuations. Office workers and residents rushed into the streets as buildings swayed. The tremors sparked widespread panic and triggering fresh memories of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24.
A series of strong aftershocks, ranging from magnitude 5.0 to 6.0, continued to rattle the region following the initial quake. Authorities remain on alert but officials maintain that the affected nations successfully avoided a worst-case scenario.
