Strong earthquake hits Mexico-Guatemala border, tsunami alert lifted

A strong 7.3 magnitude earthquake jolted the southern Pacific coast of Mexico, near the border with Guatemala, on Friday. The tremor was widely felt, reaching Mexico City and El Salvador, causing alarm among residents.

Initial reports from authorities across the affected countries indicated no immediate severe damage or casualties. A tsunami alert that had been issued was subsequently lifted about an hour after the earthquake subsided. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) located the epicenter 30 miles southwest of Aquiles Serdan, off the coast of Chiapas, at a depth of 9 miles. The main quake was followed by at least five aftershocks, ranging in magnitude from 5.1 to 6.

In Tapachula, a major city on Mexico's southern border, the earthquake began mildly but intensified significantly. Alejandra Mendoza, an administrative employee at a public hospital, described the experience: "We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard."

In Guatemala City, the prolonged shaking frightened residents, leading many to pour into the streets during rush hour. The Mexican capital, Mexico City, experienced shaking in some areas, but the earthquake alert system did not activate because the initial energy release did not exceed the system's thresholds. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System had warned of possible hazardous tsunami waves within 186 miles of the epicenter, but later confirmed the threat had passed. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that preliminary reports showed no damage, though the navy advised staying away from beaches for six hours as a precaution.

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We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard.