Disasters & Incidents
Tsunami threat passes after 7.3 quake off southern Mexico
A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off southern Mexico on Friday and was felt in parts of Central America, while a tsunami warning for Pacific coastal areas of Mexico and Guatemala was later lifted after the US government said the threat had passed.
Authorities had not yet reported any victims. The US Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was offshore, about 48 kilometers from the town of Aquiles Serdan, at a depth of 18 kilometers.
Intense tremors were felt in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as in Guatemala and El Salvador. Mexico's seismological service recorded more than 30 aftershocks of different magnitudes, with the strongest measured at 6.8.
In Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas state, people panicked in some tall buildings. Araceli Sanchez, a government employee who had been in a 15-story building, said it felt horrible and that some people cried after fleeing down emergency stairs.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had spoken with the governors of the affected states. Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales told reporters that there were no serious effects.
In Guatemala City, several buildings were evacuated, and classes were canceled in some areas closest to the Mexican border. Mexico City is more than 800 kilometers from the epicenter, but some people reported on social media that they felt the quake, and some tall buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
Mexico and Central America are located on different tectonic plates, and the source said the movement of those plates makes the region one of the most earthquake-prone in the world.
Update
The US government later said the tsunami threat had passed after issuing a warning for Pacific coastal areas of Mexico and Guatemala.
Authorities had not yet reported any victims.
Mexico's seismological service recorded more than 30 aftershocks of different magnitudes, with the strongest measured at 6.8.
Mexican Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales said there were no serious effects.
In Guatemala City, several buildings were evacuated and classes were canceled in some areas closest to the Mexican border.
Some tall buildings in Mexico City were evacuated as a precaution, and some people there reported on social media that they felt the quake.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 19:00:17 UTC.
Update
Residents felt strong tremors in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guatemala and El Salvador, according to AFP journalists.
Mexico's seismological service recorded more than 30 aftershocks, with magnitudes up to 6.8.
Scenes of panic were reported in tall buildings in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she spoke with governors of affected regions.
Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales said there were no serious effects.
Residents were urged to move away from beaches in case of a tsunami wave.
In Guatemala City, several buildings were evacuated, and classes were canceled in towns near the border.
Some tall buildings in Mexico City were evacuated as a precaution after social media reports that people felt the quake.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 17:58:09 UTC.
Update
The USGS said the quake occurred 48 kilometers off the coast of Aquiles Serdan at a depth of 18 kilometers.
AFP journalists confirmed strong tremors in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guatemala and El Salvador.
Mexico's Secretary of the Marines, Raymundo Morales, said there were no serious effects.
Local residents were urged to move away from beaches in case of a tsunami wave.
An AFP journalist reported panic in some tall buildings in Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 16:27:49 UTC.
Update
A tsunami alert followed the quake in southern Mexico, according to a US warning system.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 16:08:01 UTC.
Update
The earthquake was felt in the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca.
Tremors were also felt in Guatemala and El Salvador.
AFP journalists confirmed intense tremors in those areas.
Authorities had not reported any victims.
Source note: AFP news report published on 17 July 2026 at 15:58:44 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Authorities had not yet reported victims at the time of the source report, and later casualty or damage assessments may change.
Reports from Mexico City that some people felt the quake were described as social media reports.
Source
AFP news report published on .