A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck near the coast of Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas on Friday, prompting tsunami warnings and shaking buildings in neighboring Guatemala and El Salvador.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 15.2 kilometers (9.44 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which revised its initial magnitude assessment from 7.4 at a shallower depth.
Following the tremor, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued alerts for hazardous tsunami waves along coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter. The potential wave heights were estimated to be between 0.3 meters and 1 meter above tide level for some coastal areas in Mexico and Guatemala.
Mexico's Secretary of the Navy, Raymundo Morales, stated that water levels were not expected to rise more than half a meter and advised people to remain away from beaches as a precaution. "There is no problem, no serious maritime impact," Morales said during a government press conference. "We only expect some beaches to see a rise in water level of up to half a meter due to the tsunami effect from the earthquake."
A series of aftershocks, some registering between magnitudes 5 and 6, were felt in Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
In Guatemala City, buildings swayed, and some residents evacuated their homes. Local media in Guatemala showed footage of staff leaving a government building as security protocols were enacted. Residents expressed fear, with some recalling recent earthquakes in Venezuela.
Alexander Valdez, a 29-year-old accountant in Guatemala City, described the intense shaking. "I got really scared, and it reminded me of the recent earthquake in Venezuela. So I ran out and went down the stairs because I live on the eighth floor. The shaking wouldn’t stop," he told Reuters.
Adolfo Zacarias, a 43-year-old customer service worker, sought shelter under a structural column during the shaking, noting the memories of past seismic events. Venezuela experienced twin earthquakes on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurring within a minute of each other in its north-central region, causing structural damage and a prolonged rescue effort.