Magnitude 7.3 Quake Strikes Off Mexico’s Chiapas Coast, Felt in Guatemala and El Salvador
On Friday, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, causing tremors felt in Guatemala and El Salvador. The US Geological Survey indicated the quake occurred at a depth of 15.2 km (9.4 miles), adjusting its previous estimate of 7.4 magnitude at a shallower depth of 10 km (six miles). President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico announced that emergency measures were initiated, although no issues were reported in Chiapas or neighboring Tabasco. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo confirmed that there were no fatalities. Some residents in Guatemala evacuated to the streets. The US Tsunami Warning System cautioned that dangerous tsunami waves could affect areas within 300 km (186 miles) of the epicenter, located 58 km (36 miles) from Puerto Madero, with potential wave heights of 0.3 to one meter (one to three feet). No significant damage or casualties have been reported.
Key facts
- Magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico.
- Shaking felt in Guatemala and El Salvador.
- No immediate reports of deaths or major damage.
- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum activated emergency protocols.
- Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo reported no deaths.
- US Geological Survey revised magnitude from 7.4 to 7.3.
- Depth initially 10 km, revised to 15.2 km.
- Tsunami warning for coasts within 300 km of epicenter.
Entities
Institutions
- US Geological Survey
- US Tsunami Warning System
- Secretariat of Citizen Security
Locations
- Mexico
- Chiapas
- Tabasco
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Puerto Madero
- Mexico City