A powerful earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday, shaking neighboring countries Guatemala and El Salvador, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.
The epicenter of the quake was located 48 kilometers southwest of Acres Cerdan, a town in Chiapas state on Mexico’s coast, the USGS said.
The earthquake appears to have caused moderate to severe shaking along the coast. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) had warned that dangerous tsunamis could occur within 300 kilometers from the epicenter. Guatemala has observed several tsunamis less than 1 meter above the tide level, but said the threat was low. PTWC has since announced that the threat has passed.
Mexico’s Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles said there were “no problems” in the country after the earthquake.
“There is no serious damage. Regarding the maritime situation, the earthquake is expected to cause water levels on some coasts to rise by up to half a meter. The public is advised to stay away from the coast for the time being,” Morales Ángeles said at the end of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s morning press conference.
According to the Mexican government, no deaths have been reported at this time.
At least three people were injured in Chiapas, according to the state’s civil protection agency. Officials are responding to reports of gas leaks, collapsing walls, peeling ceiling panels, cracks and other minor structural damage.
Salomon Jara Cruz, governor of Mexico’s Oaxaca state, said the quake was felt in the state capital “with moderate strength” and that “no serious damage was reported.”
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said no deaths had yet been reported and emergency response plans were being rolled out. Authorities reported damage to building facades and other unspecified “collapses.” The Ministry of Education canceled classes in several regions in the west as a precautionary measure.
El Salvador’s fire department reported that no damage has been confirmed in the country so far.
According to the USGS, multiple aftershocks were felt in the area, including one with a preliminary magnitude of 6.0.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
