A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hits the border between Mexico and Guatemala, and the tsunami warning has been lifted

EARTHQUAKE IN MEXICO: A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Mexico’s southern Pacific coast near the Guatemala border on Friday, briefly triggering tsunami warnings in parts of the eastern Pacific before authorities declared the threat over. Despite the strength of the earthquake, officials in Mexico and Guatemala reported no major structural damage or deaths, although at least two people were injured in Mexico.

The quake, whose epicenter was offshore near the coast of Chiapas, once again highlighted the seismic vulnerability of southern Mexico, one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, where the interaction of numerous tectonic plates has produced some of the country’s deadliest natural disasters.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake measured 7.3 and struck about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southwest of Aquiles Cerdán, Chiapas, at a depth of about 9 miles (15 kilometers). The main shock was preceded by a smaller earthquake offshore, followed by at least 10 aftershocks ranging in magnitude from 4.9 to 6.0, indicating continued seismic activity beneath the Pacific coast.

The earthquake was felt in southern and central Mexico, including Mexico City, as well as in Guatemala and El Salvador.

A tsunami alert was issued, then cancelled

Immediately after the earthquake, the US Tsunami Warning System warned that dangerous tsunami waves could affect coastlines about 300 kilometers (186 miles) from the epicenter.

The Mexican Navy advised residents to stay away from beaches for six hours while emergency agencies assessed coastal conditions.

The Chiapas Meteorological Service initially estimated that tsunami waves could reach about a meter (3.3 feet) along parts of the Mexican and Guatemalan coast.

But several hours later, the US tsunami warning system canceled the warning after sea level observations indicated no devastating tsunami had occurred.

However, authorities continued to monitor coastal areas for unusual wave activity.

Panic but limited damage

In Tapachula, the largest border city in Chiapas, residents evacuated buildings as the tremor intensified.

Hospital employee Alejandra Mendoza told the Associated Press that staff initially thought the quake would subside quickly before they realized its intensity was increasing.

“We thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we evacuated the area.”

Emergency officials announced two injuries.

According to Tapachula civil protection authorities, a woman in her 30s suffered fractures after jumping from a second-floor apartment during the earthquake. Another person was slightly injured due to broken glass.

In Tuxtla Gutierrez, office workers rushed down emergency stairs from high-rise buildings.

Across neighboring Guatemala, thousands of residents left their offices and homes during their evening commute, as the tremor was felt for a long time in most parts of the country.

Guatemala’s National Disaster Reduction Coordinator reported no major structural damage but said authorities were assessing landslides reported on western highways.

The Guatemalan Ministry of Education suspended in-person classes in four western provinces closest to the epicenter.

In Mexico City, the capital’s earthquake early warning system was not activated because, according to city officials, initial seismic energy failed to exceed automatic trigger thresholds.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said initial assessments showed no significant damage nationwide.

Why does southern Mexico experience strong earthquakes?

Southern Mexico lies at one of the most complex tectonic boundaries on Earth.

The Cocos Plate is continually subducting beneath the North American Plate along the Pacific coast in a process known as subduction. Close interactions involving the Caribbean and Rivera plates increase seismic complexity.

This geological environment produces frequent moderate earthquakes and periodic major events exceeding magnitude 7.

Scientists point out that earthquakes that occur offshore, such as Friday’s event, can generate tsunamis if significant vertical movement dislodges the ocean floor.

Mexico’s long history of devastating earthquakes

Although Friday’s earthquake caused relatively limited damage, Mexico has suffered many catastrophic earthquakes throughout its history.

Among the most important are:

1985 Mexico City earthquake (magnitude 8.0-8.1)

One of the country’s deadliest disasters occurred on September 19, 1985. Although the epicenter was hundreds of kilometers away on the Pacific coast, the soft lake bottom below Mexico City amplified seismic waves, leading to a widespread collapse.

About 3,700 deaths have been officially recorded, although many independent estimates place the number between 10,000 and 20,000. Tens of thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed.

2017 Puebla earthquake (magnitude 7.1)

The September 19, 2017, earthquake occurred exactly 32 years after the 1985 disaster, and killed 369 people, including more than 220 in Mexico City. Schools, residential buildings and offices collapsed, triggering one of the country’s largest rescue operations in decades.

2017 Chiapas earthquake (magnitude 8.2)

Just twelve days before the Puebla earthquake, a larger offshore earthquake occurred near Chiapas. It killed nearly 100 people, damaged tens of thousands of buildings across southern Mexico, and generated a small tsunami.

2022 Michoacán earthquake (magnitude 7.6)

Another earthquake on September 19 struck western Mexico, causing a limited number of deaths but renewing concerns about the unusual cluster of large earthquakes on that date.

Aftershocks can last for weeks

Seismologists warn that earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater usually generate hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of aftershocks over the following days or weeks.

While most aftershocks are much weaker than the main quake, some can exceed magnitude 6 and may cause more damage to weak structures.

Residents throughout Chiapas and neighboring areas were advised to remain alert.

Heavy rains raise the risk of landslides

According to forecasts by the Mexican National Meteorological Service (SMN) and the US National Hurricane Center (NHC), no tropical cyclone is expected to impact southern Mexico immediately after the earthquake.

But meteorological agencies predicted:

Widespread thunderstorms continue across Chiapas and Guatemala; Heavy rain in mountainous areas can lead to landslides; River levels rise in some southern watersheds; Normal conditions of the Pacific wave after the cancellation of the tsunami warning.

Emergency managers warned that saturated soil could make slopes destabilized by the quake more vulnerable to collapse, especially along mountain highways.

The Pacific “Ring of Fire” is still very active

Mexico forms part of the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped region surrounding the Pacific Ocean where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur.

The region extends from New Zealand through Indonesia, Japan, Alaska, the west coast of North America and Central America before returning to the South Pacific.

The country’s advanced seismic monitoring network and earthquake early warning system have greatly improved disaster preparedness in recent decades, although Friday’s event showed that not every earthquake generates enough initial energy to trigger advance warnings in distant cities.

Authorities continue to check infrastructure across Chiapas while monitoring aftershocks, but as of Friday evening, officials in Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador reported that the powerful offshore quake had largely spared the region from the widespread devastation often associated with seismic events of this magnitude.

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