A major 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck near the coast of Chiapas in southern Mexico on Friday morning, triggering a tsunami threat for around one million people living in coastal areas.
The seismic activity occurred at 10.48am ET, prompting immediate warnings that dangerous waves capable of inundating nearby coastlines could threaten local communities.
People living along the affected Pacific shorelines were told to prepare for potential flooding, strong ocean currents, or massive waves. The National Tsunami Warning Center, operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to assess Pacific basin hazards, noted that there is no tsunami danger for the US West Coast, British Columbia, or Alaska.
Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state, situated along a seismically active corridor where the Cocos tectonic plate subducts beneath the North American plate. It is bordered by Guatemala to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, and the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Tabasco. The epicenter lies directly along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 25,000-mile horseshoe-shaped belt that contains about 75 percent of Earth's active and dormant volcanoes and produces roughly 90 percent of the world's earthquakes.
Sirens blare as tremors shake Central America
Sirens were heard blaring through Chiapas shortly after the earthquake struck, as reeling residents exited buildings and crowded onto open streets. Disaster management guidelines advise locals who are indoors during seismic activity to drop, cover, and hold on, and then check on neighbors to ensure they are safe.
Geological experts warned that shaking intensity can vary depending on local terrain and building types, but shallow earthquakes are often felt across a much wider region. Authorities also cautioned that aftershocks are likely in the hours and days ahead. The earthquake-prone region has experienced 22 quakes over the past 30 days, making Friday's event the strongest recorded during that period.
Tremors were registered hundreds of miles from the epicenter. In Mexico City, located more than 500 miles away, residents felt their homes shake and saw lights blinking. The Mexican capital sits atop an ancient lakebed whose soft soil regularly amplifies seismic waves originating from coastal fault lines.
Eyewitnesses told Reuters news agency that buildings also shook across Guatemala and El Salvador. Reporting on the social media platform X, one local resident in Central America described the sensation, writing: "It felt like an earthquake in El Salvador, guys, soft and swaying in the city of Usulután. Santa Tecla was strong."
Government reaction and emergency alerts
Rescue crews were gathered to help search for any wounded following the earthquake. Members of Mexico's National Guard, the country's national gendarmerie and civil protection force, were deployed alongside local workers to clear debris following the earthquake.
It remains unclear if there was any significant damage or injuries caused by the earthquake. Salomón Jara Cruz, the governor of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, urged citizens to "remain calm" and reported that tremors were felt with moderate intensity across his region, but said "no significant damage" has been reported.
Writing on X, Governor Jara Cruz stated: "To date, no significant damage has been reported. Citizens are urged to remain calm, follow the authorities' recommendations, and stay informed solely through official channels."
However, residents living in the region expressed frustration, saying they never received alerts about the earthquake before the shaking began. Mexico operates a public seismic warning system designed to broadcast automated mobile and siren alerts ahead of approaching shockwaves.
One person shared on X: "The 'presidential alert' is useless; it never even rang." Another resident posted: "Why didn't the seismic alert sound, and last time in Oaxaca nothing even happened, but here it did sound."
Following the initial shock, officials ordered debris from the aftermath be removed as emergency crews continued evaluating infrastructure across southern Mexico.
