Magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes off Mexico coast, tsunami warning issued

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the coastal region of southern Mexico early Friday, prompting a tsunami warning that stretched across the Pacific. The quake, which struck near the fishing town of Puerto Madero in Chiapas state, sent shockwaves through neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador but left no immediate reports of deaths or major structural damage.

Quake details and immediate response

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake occurred at 08:49 local time (14:49 GMT) at a depth of 15.2 kilometers. The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Chiapas, a region known for seismic activity. Within hours, a series of aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.7 to 6 rattled the area, keeping residents on edge.

Mexico's navy secretary, Admiral Raymundo Morales, told a press conference that there was "no serious impact" from the quake, but advised people to stay away from beaches as a precaution. The US Tsunami Warning System initially warned of possible "hazardous tsunami waves" along the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala. It later recorded waves of 0.3 meters (1.1 feet) above tide level in Puerto Madero and Chiapas.

Regional impact and government actions

Governor Salomón Jara Cruz of Oaxaca state said the quake was felt with "moderate intensity" but no significant damage was reported. In Chiapas, Governor Eduardo Ramírez also confirmed no serious impact, but ordered the suspension of administrative activities and urged the private sector to follow suit. The tremor was strong enough to shake buildings in Guatemala and El Salvador, triggering evacuations and causing some residents to flee their homes, according to Reuters.

Guatemala's President Bernardo Arévalo deployed the country's emergency management agency after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake with its epicenter in Quetzaltenango. No fatalities were recorded, he added. "I call on the population to remain calm and to follow the recommendations," Arévalo said on social media platform X.

Tsunami warning and safety precautions

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which operates the tsunami warning center, forecast waves of less than 0.3 meters above tide level for El Salvador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Honduras. NOAA emphasized that a tsunami is a series of waves with intervals between crests ranging from five minutes to an hour and can persist for many hours. In this event, waves lasted 12 minutes in Puerto Madero and 28 minutes in Chiapas.

"Persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown, be crushed by debris in the water, or be swept out to sea," NOAA warned. It urged government agencies in threatened coastal areas to instruct populations at risk and advised people to stay alert for information and follow local authorities' instructions.

Aftermath and forward-looking perspective

NOAA later reported that the tsunami threat had passed, but advised residents in affected areas to "remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea." The quake underscores the seismic vulnerability of the Pacific Rim, where tectonic plate movements frequently generate powerful earthquakes. While this event caused no casualties, it serves as a reminder for coastal communities to maintain robust early warning systems and disaster preparedness plans. Local authorities continue to monitor aftershocks and assess any hidden damage, as the region remains on alert for further seismic activity.