Powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes southern Mexico – also felt in Guatemala

Tsunami warning and safety measures

A tsunami warning was issued, as Navy Minister Raymundo Morales said on Friday. The minister also stated that sea levels could rise by up to half a meter as a result of the quake. The population was urged to stay away from the coast.

"Es gibt keine großen Schäden", Morales said in the Caribbean town of Tulum at President Claudia Sheinbaum's press conference, according to preliminary findings. Initially, no fatalities or injuries were reported, as the head of civil protection in Chiapas, Arturo Barrientos, told the broadcaster N+.

After the quake, people in Chiapas took to the streets to get to safety. The tremor was also clearly felt in neighboring Guatemala, where precautionary measures were also taken.

Aftershocks and ongoing inspections

Several moderate to strong aftershocks followed the main quake, one of which reached a magnitude of 6.1, according to the US Geological Survey. Such aftershocks are typical after severe earthquakes and can cause additional damage to already weakened structures.

Protocols to inspect possible damage to buildings and infrastructure were ongoing, according to authorities. Civil protection teams were deployed throughout the state of Chiapas to check affected areas and inform the population.

Political response in Tulum

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was in Tulum on the Caribbean coast at the time of the quake and, together with Navy Minister Morales, gathered information on the situation. At the press conference, she took the opportunity to speak about the government's ongoing measures.

Earthquakes along Mexico's Pacific coast are not uncommon: the region lies on the edge of several tectonic plates, which is why tectonic movements occur there regularly. Earthquakes of this magnitude are also not unusual in Guatemala.

While the seismological agency and civil protection continued to assess the situation, the tsunami warning remained in effect for the time being. Authorities urged people to follow official information and to avoid beaches or low-lying coastal areas.