A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, at 8:48 a.m. on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, as confirmed by the National Seismological Service.
The shallow quake, with a depth of merely 10 kilometers, was felt across much of the state, including the border city of Tapachula, where over 13,000 Cuban migrants are stranded.
According to Univision, the epicenter was situated offshore, near Puerto Madero, close to Mexico's border with Guatemala. As of early afternoon, no official reports of damage or casualties had been made.
In the Chiapas capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, public buildings and offices were evacuated immediately following civil protection protocols. Emergency teams surveyed the area to assess any structural damage before allowing workers to return to the buildings.
Impact and Aftershocks
An Azteca Noticias correspondent in Tuxtla Gutiérrez remarked on the quake's intensity: "Normally, tremors aren't felt throughout the metropolitan area, but today it was noticeable."
Within 32 minutes of the main quake, at least four significant aftershocks occurred: a 4.5 magnitude at 9:09 a.m., a 5.8 at 9:14 a.m., a 5.2 at 9:15 a.m., and a 6.1 at 9:20 a.m., located near Ciudad Hidalgo, Huixtla, and Mapastepec, according to Minuto Chiapas.
The earthquake was also distinctly felt in Tapachula, with Cuban residents documenting the event on social media. "In Tuxtla Gutiérrez it was felt. But thank God it was just the tremor," a Facebook user commented on a post by journalist José Luis Tan Estrada reporting the quake.
Tsunami Warning and Community Response
The Tsunami Alert Center issued a warning for all Mexico and Guatemala coasts within 300 kilometers of the epicenter in the Pacific Ocean. Chile and El Salvador ruled out tsunami threats for their shores.
The Mexican Seismic Alert System (SASMEX) did not activate, as the energy released in the initial seconds of the event did not meet the required thresholds.
The Cuban community in Tapachula, the largest group of island migrants in Mexico, numbering over 13,000 stranded individuals, experienced the earthquake firsthand. Many were deported from the United States directly to Chiapas and live in precarious conditions without work permits or regular documentation.
The region had already seen notable seismic activity in the days leading up to the quake: a 5.2 magnitude tremor on July 13 with an epicenter 37 kilometers southwest of Tapachula, and a 4.3 on July 16 just three kilometers from the city.
Southern Chiapas lies atop the subduction zone where the Cocos Plate descends beneath the North American Plate, one of the country's most seismically active areas. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and assess potential impacts along the Soconusco coastal region.
Key Information About the Chiapas Earthquake
Where was the epicenter of the Chiapas earthquake?
The epicenter was located 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, near Puerto Madero on the coast of Chiapas, Mexico.
How many aftershocks were recorded after the main earthquake?
At least four significant aftershocks were recorded within 32 minutes of the main quake, with magnitudes ranging from 4.5 to 6.1.
Was there a tsunami alert issued for the Chiapas earthquake?
Yes, a tsunami alert was issued for the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala within 300 kilometers of the epicenter, though Chile and El Salvador dismissed any tsunami threats for their coasts.