ALBAWABA – A magnitude 7.4 quake occurred off Mexico’s southern coast on Friday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific coast while emergency personnel assessed possible damage in the region.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake hit near Puerto Madero in Chiapas state at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles). Generally, shallow earthquakes produce higher ground shaking and a greater chance of damage to buildings.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System cautioned that dangerous tsunami waves might reach coasts within 300 kilometers (186 miles) of the epicenter and placed areas of Mexico's Pacific coast under a tsunami threat. Authorities warned residents in coastal areas to be alert and to follow emergency procedures.
The huge tremor was felt across southern Mexico, bordering Guatemala and El Salvador, sending citizens running from of homes, offices and public buildings. Local media broadcast footage of evacuations being carried out as emergency response measures were initiated.
Officials in the Mexican state of Oaxaca reported the quake was felt with moderate intensity while authorities in Guatemala confirmed widespread shaking. There were no initial reports of casualties or serious damage as of Friday, however rescue teams were still assessing infrastructure in the impacted areas.
The earthquake struck one of Mexico’s most seismically active locations. There the Cocos Plate dives beneath the North American Plate, rendering southern Mexico particularly vulnerable to strong earthquakes and offshore occurrences that might generate tsunamis. Authorities are keeping an eye out for aftershocks and any changes in tsunami risk.
