Full story
Quake, tsunami alert
A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck southern Mexico near Ciudad Hidalgo in Chiapas at 08:48 local time (14:48 GMT), with the U.S. Geological Survey reporting a depth of 10 kilometers and shaking buildings in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote that "states that report no damage so far" and said "Protocols are being activated in neighboring entities" after the quake southwest of Huixtla and the events recorded in Ciudad Hidalgo.
The U.S. tsunami warning system warned of dangerous waves on coasts within less than 300 kilometers of the epicenter, and waves were forecast to be between 0.3 and 1 meter above sea level on coasts of Guatemala and Mexico.
In Guatemala, the National Institute of Seismology, Vulcanology, Meteorology and Hydrology (INSIVUMEH) reported a first quake of magnitude 5 at 07:20 local time (13:20 GMT) and a second quake of magnitude 5.6 with an epicenter in the department of Quetzaltenango.
In Mexico’s state of Oaxaca, Governor Salomón Jara said the earthquake was perceived with moderate intensity and posted that "no significant impacts have been reported" while Civil Protection agencies activated monitoring protocols.
Evacuations and eyewitnesses
In Guatemala City, the earthquake shook buildings and led some residents to rush from their homes into the street, with Reuters reporting the scene and local media showing footage of officials evacuating a government building while security protocols were being activated.
Alexander Valdez, a 29-year-old accountant, told Reuters in Guatemala City, "I ran out and went down the stairs because I live on the eighth floor. The shaking wouldn't stop," as tremors continued.
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, AFP journalists reported scenes of panic in the city’s few tall buildings, where Araceli Sanchez, a government employee in a 15-story building, said, "It feels horrible up there," after fleeing down emergency stairs.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System later issued and then lifted the alert, and AFP reported that authorities had not yet reported any victims while classes were canceled in some areas closest to the Mexican border.
Mexican authorities also reported that the navy recommended staying away from beaches for six hours due to tsunami risk, while the Meteorological Service of Chiapas warned of tsunami waves up to 1 meter off the coast of Mexico and Guatemala.
Aftershocks, injuries, monitoring
After the main quake, the U.S. Geological Survey reported at least 10 aftershocks between magnitude 4.9 and 6, and the AP said the tremor was felt from Mexico City to El Salvador.
“Advertising The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported that at 08:48 local time (14:48 GMT) in southern Mexico, with an epicenter in Ciudad Hidalgo in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, a magnitude-7”
In southern Mexico, AP reported that two people were injured, while the state’s civil protection service said at least four people were injured in Chiapas and authorities responded to gas leaks and reports of collapsed walls, detached ceiling panels, cracks and other minor structural damage.
Oaxaca Governor Salomón Jara Cruz said the quake was felt with "moderate intensity" in the state capital and that "no significant damage" had been reported, as Chiapas Civil Protection said it was active and under constant monitoring.
Guatemala’s National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (CONRED) reported no immediate damage, and the Ministry of Education suspended in-person classes in the departments of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez and Retalhuleu.
Even after the tsunami alert was lifted, the Mexican Navy’s Tsunami Alert Center canceled the alert after analyzing sea-level behavior and observations, while the Navy urged the population and civil authorities to maintain strict precautions at the entrances to ports due to persistent strong currents.
