An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shakes Puerto Madero and the coast of the state of Chiapas (Mexico) and causes a tsunami alert

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Puerto Madero and the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas on Friday morning, triggering tsunami alerts along both Mexico's and Guatemala's coasts. The quake was felt more intensely in Chiapas than in neighboring Guatemala, where its intensity was recorded at 5.6. Authorities in both countries have activated emergency protocols, though no fatalities or injuries have been reported so far. The tremor occurred at 8:48 local time, with its epicenter located 135 kilometers southwest of the city of Ciudad Hidalgo, near the border with Guatemala, at a depth of 10 kilometers. The initial assessment of the earthquake’s magnitude was 6.8, but this was later revised to 7.4 by Mexico’s National Seismological Service. The seismic activity affected large parts of Chiapas, which lies in southern Mexico, and was also felt in Guatemala. In response, the State Protection Civil System in Chiapas initiated monitoring protocols across all regions. Emergency evacuations were carried out in hospitals and public and private buildings in the capital of the state, as well as in several municipalities such as Villahermosa and Ciudad Hidalgo. Within minutes of the initial quake, two aftershocks measuring 4.5 and 5.8 were recorded. According to the official statement from the State Secretariat of Civil Protection, there have been no reports of personal or material damage beyond psychological distress among the affected population. The earthquake was confirmed to have occurred at 8:38 hours, with its epicenter located 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, the seat of the municipality of Suchiate, which borders Guatemala. The Mexican Navy activated a tsunami warning following the 7.4-magnitude quake, advising people not to approach coastal areas for the next six hours. The official bulletin indicates that the most affected areas are the coasts of Chiapas and Oaxaca, states in southern Mexico, where sea level changes of up to 105 centimeters above the tide are expected. Meanwhile, Guatemala’s National Institute of Seismology warned of a low-level tsunami threat in the country due to possible sea level variations of 100 centimeters and increased wave strength. President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced via her social media account that emergency protocols had been activated in the state and urged citizens to follow the recommendations of Civil Protection authorities. She spoke with governors of Chiapas and Tabasco, who have not yet reported any damage. Officials from the three levels of government are conducting field assessments to evaluate potential structural impacts and coordinate preventive measures. In Guatemala, the Institute of Volcanology, Seismology, Meteorology, and Hydrology (Insivumeh) initially stated that the epicenter was located in Quetzaltenango at 8:48 hours, at a depth of 10 kilometers. However, subsequent updates indicated that the magnitude of the earthquake was 7.4 with its epicenter along the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. Similar to Mexico, several public buildings and educational centers were evacuated as a precautionary measure, including in the capital city of Guatemala. The National Coordination for Disaster Reduction (Conred) advised the public to remain calm, check their homes' conditions, avoid staying near visibly damaged structures, and follow instructions from authorities. Later, Guatemala’s Seismological Service reported an aftershock of magnitude 5.1 at 9:09 hours. So far, no casualties or property damage have been reported, although Conred continues to monitor the ten most affected departments. President of Guatemala, Bernardo Ar, has remained in close contact with officials to ensure preparedness and coordination in response to the situation.