A Mexico earthquake tsunami warning is in force across multiple Pacific coastlines after a magnitude 7.3 tremor struck off the coast of south-western Mexico on Friday, 17 July, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The U.S. Tsunami Warning System has issued warnings covering several coasts in the region, advising residents and travellers to follow instructions from local and national authorities.
Mexico Earthquake Tsunami Warning: What the Alerts Cover
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System stated that ‘hazardous tsunami waves’ were possible along the coasts of Mexico and Guatemala, the areas closest to the seismic site. A formal warning is in place for 186 miles around the earthquake’s epicentre, spanning both countries. Wave heights in that zone are forecast at between 1 and 3 feet (0.3 to 1 metre) above tide level.
A broader set of Pacific nations faces a lower but still-monitored risk. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System said waves were forecast to be less than 1 foot above tide level on the coasts of Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Honduras. The system urged government agencies in all affected coastal areas to instruct at-risk populations, and advised anyone in those regions to ‘stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities.’
For travel operators with clients along the Pacific coasts of Central and South America, the advisory covers a wide corridor. Puerto Madero, a major Pacific port and fishing town located close to the Guatemalan border and around 44 miles south-west of Tapachula, sits near the epicentre zone and is among the locations under the closest scrutiny.
Earthquake Detail: Depth, Location and Early Damage Reports
The USGS recorded the quake at approximately 07:48 local time on Friday. The epicentre was around 30 miles south-west of Aquiles Serdan, on the coast of the Mexican state of Chiapas, at a depth of 9 miles (15 kilometres). A smaller foreshock preceded the main event, with its own epicentre slightly further out into the ocean.
Chiapas sits on Mexico’s Pacific side, bordering Guatemala, and the region is one of the more seismically active stretches of the Central American subduction zone. The proximity to the Guatemalan border meant the tremor was felt across two countries almost simultaneously.
Salomón Jara Cruz, Governor of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, said the earthquake was felt with ‘moderate intensity’ but noted that no significant damage had been reported there. Reports indicate the tremor was felt across a wide arc stretching from Mexico City to El Salvador. Reuters reported that the tremor shook buildings in Guatemala and El Salvador, with people in Guatemala City reportedly running from their homes.
The Mexico earthquake tsunami warning remains active as of Friday afternoon. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System, USGS, and civil protection agencies across the region continue to monitor conditions. Travellers and tourism operators with passengers or staff in the affected Pacific coastal areas should continue checking for updates from local civil protection authorities and follow any evacuation or shelter-in-place instructions as they are issued.
