A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the Pacific coast of southern Mexico, prompting tsunami warnings and causing strong shaking across parts of Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). The epicenter was located about 71 kilometers southwest of Puerto Madero, in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Strong shaking felt across Central America

The earthquake was widely felt throughout southern Mexico, with residents reporting intense shaking that lasted several seconds.

The tremor was also strongly felt in Guatemala, where buildings swayed and people rushed outdoors as a precaution. Local media broadcast footage showing the evacuation of government buildings.

Residents in El Salvador also reported feeling the earthquake, according to eyewitness accounts.

At this stage, there are no confirmed reports of fatalities or major structural damage, while authorities continue to assess the situation.

Tsunami warning for Pacific coastlines

Following the earthquake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) stated that hazardous tsunami waves could affect coastal areas located within approximately 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter.

Emergency management agencies are closely monitoring sea levels and have urged residents in vulnerable coastal communities to follow official instructions.

A highly active seismic region

Southern Mexico is one of the world’s most seismically active regions due to the interaction between the Cocos Plate and the North American Plate.

As the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate, the region frequently experiences strong earthquakes, some of which are capable of generating tsunamis across the Pacific Ocean.

Seismologists expect numerous aftershocks in the coming hours and days as the fault system gradually releases accumulated stress.