7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Rocks Mexico Guatemala Border, Tsunami Alert Later Lifted

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Mexico's southern Pacific coast near the Guatemala border on Friday, triggering tsunami warnings, widespread evacuations and strong tremors felt across southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and as far as Mexico City. Authorities in the affected countries reported no fatalities or major structural damage , while two people were injured in southern Mexico.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS) , the quake's epicenter was about 48 kilometres southwest of Aquiles Serdán in the state of Chiapas , at a depth of 15 kilometres . It was preceded by a smaller offshore tremor and followed by at least 10 aftershocks ranging between magnitude 4.9 and 6.0 .

In Tapachula, hospital staff and residents evacuated buildings as the shaking intensified. A Haitian migrant woman suffered fractures after jumping from a four metre apartment building in panic, while another person sustained minor injuries from broken glass. In Guatemala, authorities reported no immediate damage but confirmed landslides on some western roads and suspended in person classes in the departments of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu as a precaution.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said preliminary assessments indicated no significant damage. The Mexican Navy advised people to stay away from beaches for six hours after authorities warned of possible tsunami waves of up to one metre along parts of the Mexican and Guatemalan coast. Later, tsunami monitoring agencies lifted the tsunami threat after sea level observations showed no significant hazardous waves. The US National Weather Service also confirmed there was no tsunami threat to the US West Coast .

The seismically active region has experienced several devastating earthquakes, including the deadly 2017 Chiapas earthquake and another strong quake in southern Mexico earlier this year.