Mexico Earthquake of Magnitude 7.4 Triggers Tsunami Alert Off Chiapas
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, near Puerto Madero on Friday morning, triggering a brief tsunami alert for the southern Pacific coastline, emergency evacuations, and multiple aftershocks. The Mexico earthquake registered at just before 8:49 a.m. local time according to the National Seismological Service. [3]
Major Earthquake Strikes Off Chiapas Coast
The epicenter of the initial earthquake was located about 58 kilometers off the coast of Puerto Madero, Chiapas. [3] The earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers. [3] Mexican authorities registered the event at M7.4 on the Richter scale. [3] The U.S. Geological Survey also documented the mainshock and subsequent activity in the same coastal zone. [1]
Tsunami Alert Issued and Lifted
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert for Mexico’s southern Pacific coastline. [3] President Claudia Sheinbaum advised residents of Oaxaca and Chiapas to stay away from the ocean until late afternoon. [3] The alert was deactivated about two hours later after the agency detected minor sea level variations. [4] Authorities in affected coastal states maintained monitoring protocols during the period the alert remained active. [3]
Aftershocks Continue in the Region
Five significant aftershocks occurred in the next 68 minutes according to the U.S. Geological Survey. [3] These included an M5.3 at 9:14, an M5.1 at 9:19, an M6.0 at 9:20, an M5.0 at 9:30, and an M5.1 at 9:57. [3] Mexican officials reported up to 39 aftershocks with magnitudes between 4.5 and 6.5 in the first hour and 12 minutes after the main event. [4] The National Seismological Service recorded additional events such as an M5.0 at 79 km southwest of Puerto Madero and an M4.2 at 88 km west-southwest of Puerto Madero. [1][2] The head of the National Seismological Service noted that aftershocks in areas such as Huixtla, Chiapas, could correspond to the larger event near Ciudad Hidalgo. [4]
Evacuations and Official Response
The tremors caused the emergency evacuation of hundreds of workers in various public and private buildings in Villahermosa. [3] The Tabasco State Civil Protection Institute began structural review work while personnel from the Energy Ministry, Pemex, the Governor’s Palace, and municipal City Hall moved to designated shelters. [3] In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, some people left high-rise buildings because of the intensity of the shaking. [4] The government of Chiapas suspended the workday as a preventive measure. [4] President Claudia Sheinbaum reported no initial damage or victims after speaking with the governors of Chiapas and Tabasco. [3] The federal Security Ministry in Mexico City stated that residents in some areas felt the earthquake but that activation of the seismic alarm was not necessary because the tremors did not represent a risk to the capital. [3] The National Coordination of Civil Protection maintained communication with state and municipal units as well as members of the National Emergency Committee. [3]
Impact Felt Across Southern Mexico and Beyond
The earthquake was felt with strong intensity in the Tabasco state capital of Villahermosa about 500 kilometers to the north. [3] It was also perceived in parts of Oaxaca, Antigua, Guatemala, and El Salvador. [3][4] The Secretaría de Protección Civil deployed teams to review infrastructure, housing, and basic services in the affected states. [4] State governments reported no victims or significant damage in initial assessments. [4] The Servicio Sismológico Nacional indicated that seismic waves lost intensity rapidly with distance, resulting in low risk for central Mexico including Mexico City. [4] Guatemalan authorities recorded aftershocks of magnitude 5 and 5.6 and evacuated some buildings, including the Casa Presidencial in Guatemala City. [4]
What to watch next: Officials will continue structural inspections and urge residents to report any damage to 911 while monitoring for additional aftershocks in the region.
