A mammoth 7.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded near the coast of the southern state of Chiapas, sparking a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake
Members of Mexico’s National Guard clear debris after the earthquake(Image: JUAN MANUEL BLANCO/EPA/Shutterstock)
A tsunami warning has been triggered after a huge earthquake hit off the coast of Mexico. A mammoth 7.3 magnitude earthquake was recorded near the coast of the southern state of Chiapas, the United States Geological Survey said.
The earthquake struck Puerto Madero, a major Pacific port and fishing town located roughly 13km from the Guatemalan border. The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), USGS said.
It was felt across neighbouring Guatemala and El Salvador and prompted evacuations in Guatemala City and Chinique, Guatemala. Videos shared on social media shows people people evacuating buildings in across the region.
A tsunami warning has been triggered
Dozens of people were seen evacuated offices, businesses and other buildings in Guatemala’s capital. Another shows the moment the seismic alert was activated in Guatemala as a loud siren bellowed out across the city.
The tsunami warning is in place for parts of the Pacific located closer to the earthquake, the United States Geological Survey said. It adds that “hazardous tsunami waves” are possible for coasts located within 300km of the epicentre of the earthquake.
The magnitude of the earthquake was earlier given as 7.4 but has since been revised down 7.3, according to the United States Geological Survey.
Workers in Guatemala City were evacuated(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Tremors of that magnitude regularly trigger destructive secondary hazards, such as tsunamis and landslides. The United States Geological Survey said the quake had a depth of 10km (6.21 miles).
Shallower earthquakes generally cause more intense and concentrated shaking and damage.
Aftershocks were reported to have hit the region after the initial earthquake. Mexico’s national seismological service reports several smaller quakes in the area, with preliminary magnitudes of 5.2, 4.5 and 6.1.
Workers in Guatemala flee their buildings(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The governor of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca has said the earthquake was felt with “moderate intensity” in the state’s capital. Salomon Jara said on social media that no serious damage was immediately reported.
He wrote: “Citizens are urged to remain calm, follow the authorities’ recommendations, and stay informed solely through official channels.”
