The main tremor was part of a sequence of seismic activity in the area as weaker quakes happened before and after the main event.
A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the southern coast of Mexico early Friday morning, rattling the region and triggering immediate infrastructure reviews by emergency officials.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck near the Pacific coast of Chiapas state. The tremor occurred at a shallow depth of roughly 9 miles, a factor that typically amplifies the intensity of shaking and expands the area where it can be felt. The main tremor was part of a broader sequence of seismic activity in the area.
Weaker earthquakes rattled the region shortly before and after the main event, including a magnitude 4.7 quake near Aquiles Serdán, alongside tremors of magnitude 5.1, 5.3, and 6.0 near Puerto Madero.
"Analysts are still reviewing the PAGER impact assessment results that report the estimated damage. But given the size and location of the earthquake, damage is possible," USGS spokesperson Steven Sobieszczyk told Newsweek. After the quake, a tsunami threat was issued for the coastlines of Mexico and Guatemala. 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake in Mexico Today: Where Was the Epicenter?
Preliminary data from the USGS placed the epicenter approximately 30 miles southwest of Aquiles Serdán, a coastal community in Chiapas, and near the port town of Puerto Madero near the Guatemala border. The earthquake struck at 8:48 a.m. local time. A magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake is classified as a major event capable of causing severe to catastrophic damage, particularly near the epicenter and in areas with vulnerable buildings.
Recent USGS assessments note that earthquakes of this magnitude carry the potential for significant structural damage, fatalities, landslides, liquefaction, and widespread infrastructure disruptions.
"Historically, this part of Mexico is prone to large earthquakes, where the Cocos plate subducts beneath the North America plate at a rate of approximately 76 mm/yr," Sobieszczyk told Newsweek. "There have been at least eight magnitude 7 or greater quakes in this region since 2000, with the last closest one being a M7.4 in June 2020. The most recent, largest quake was a M8.2 earthquake in September 2017.
" Impact of Today's Earthquake There were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage in the minutes following the earthquake, but authorities were expected to evaluate infrastructure and monitor coastal areas for possible tsunami impacts. Videos shared on social media showed strong shaking when the earthquake occurred. A tsunami was not expected in the U.S. because of the quake, NWS Tsunami Alerts said.
"BREAKING: Major earthquake offshore of the Mexican/Guatemalan border! This was a magnitude 7.3 thrust quake; the Cocos plate is subducting, or sliding, beneath the North American and/or Caribbean Plate," MyRadar Weather senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted on X. "That up/down motion means there IS a tsunami threat within 200 miles of the epicenter.
Meanwhile, substantial liquefaction may have occurred. That means the shaking and stressing of the landscape may have briefly allowed soils to act liquid-y, meaning some objects may have sunk due to the reduced crustal stiffness. Significant aftershocks will continue for days!
" What Was Mexico's Deadliest Earthquake? The September 19, 1985, Mexico City earthquake is widely regarded as one of the deadliest and most devastating disasters in Mexico's history because of its enormous human and economic toll. The earthquake measured magnitude 8.0–8.1 and caused catastrophic damage across Mexico City, where soft lake-bed sediments amplified the shaking. Estimates of the death toll vary widely.
Official figures were generally around 5,000 to 10,000 deaths, with 30,000 people injured. Thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed. What Happens Next Officials commonly urge residents in affected regions to follow local emergency guidance and remain alert for aftershocks following a quake of this magnitude. After a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, aftershocks can continue for weeks, although they become less frequent and generally weaker over time.
The largest aftershocks are most likely to occur in the first hours and days after the main quake, but significant aftershocks can still happen much later. Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Kate Nalepinski and Anthony Murray. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck near the Pacific coast of Chiapas state.
The tremor occurred at a shallow depth of roughly 9 miles, a factor that typically amplifies the intensity of shaking and expands the area where it can be felt. The main tremor was part of a broader sequence of seismic activity in the area. Weaker earthquakes rattled the region shortly before and after the main event, including a magnitude 4.7 quake near Aquiles Serdán, alongside tremors of magnitude 5.1, 5.3, and 6.0 near Puerto Madero.
"Analysts are still reviewing the PAGER impact assessment results that report the estimated damage. But given the size and location of the earthquake, damage is possible," USGS spokesperson Steven Sobieszczyk told7.3 Magnitude Earthquake in Mexico Today: Where Was the Epicenter? Preliminary data from the USGS placed the epicenter approximately 30 miles southwest of Aquiles Serdán, a coastal community in Chiapas, and near the port town of Puerto Madero near the Guatemala border. The earthquake struck at 8:48 a.m. local time.
A magnitude 7.0 or greater earthquake is classified as a major event capable of causing severe to catastrophic damage, particularly near the epicenter and in areas with vulnerable buildings. Recent USGS assessments note that earthquakes of this magnitude carry the potential for significant structural damage, fatalities, landslides, liquefaction, and widespread infrastructure disruptions.
"Historically, this part of Mexico is prone to large earthquakes, where the Cocos plate subducts beneath the North America plate at a rate of approximately 76 mm/yr," Sobieszczyk told. "There have been at least eight magnitude 7 or greater quakes in this region since 2000, with the last closest one being a M7.4 in June 2020. The most recent, largest quake was a M8.2 earthquake in September 2017.
"in the minutes following the earthquake, but authorities were expected to evaluate infrastructure and monitor coastal areas for possible tsunami impacts. Videos shared on social media showed strong shaking when the earthquake occurred.
"BREAKING: Major earthquake offshore of the Mexican/Guatemalan border! This was a magnitude 7.3 thrust quake; the Cocos plate is subducting, or sliding, beneath the North American and/or Caribbean Plate," MyRadar Weather senior meteorologist Matthew Cappucci posted on X."That up/down motion means there IS a tsunami threat within 200 miles of the epicenter.
Meanwhile, substantial liquefaction may have occurred. That means the shaking and stressing of the landscape may have briefly allowed soils to act liquid-y, meaning some objects may have sunk due to the reduced crustal stiffness. Significant aftershocks will continue for days!
" The September 19, 1985, Mexico City earthquake is widely regarded as one of the deadliest and most devastating disasters in Mexico's history because of its enormous human and economic toll. The earthquake measured magnitude 8.0–8.1 and caused catastrophic damage across Mexico City, where soft lake-bed sediments amplified the shaking. Estimates of the death toll vary widely. Official figures were generally around 5,000 to 10,000 deaths, with 30,000 people injured.
Thousands of buildings were damaged or destroyed. Officials commonly urge residents in affected regions to follow local emergency guidance and remain alert for aftershocks following a quake of this magnitude. After a magnitude 7.3 earthquake, aftershocks can continue for weeks, although they become less frequent and generally weaker over time. The largest aftershocks are most likely to occur in the first hours and days after the main quake, but significant aftershocks can still happen much later.
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