Sunday, July 19, 2026 - A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico and parts of Central America on Friday, July 17, triggering a tsunami alert along sections of the Pacific coast and causing panic across the region.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the
earthquake occurred about 48 kilometres off the coast of Aquiles Serdan in
Mexico at a depth of 18 kilometres.
Mexico's seismological service later recorded more than 30
aftershocks, with the strongest measuring 6.8 magnitude. The US National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a tsunami threat alert
following the quake, prompting authorities to advise residents to move away
from beaches as a precaution
The tremor was strongly felt in the Mexican states of
Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as in neighbouring Guatemala and El Salvador. No
casualties had been reported as of the time of filing this report. In Tuxtla
Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas State, frightened residents evacuated
buildings as the quake struck.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had spoken with
the governors of the affected states, while Navy Secretary Raymundo Morales
assured the public that there were no major impacts. She said "There are
no serious effects." In Guatemala City, authorities evacuated several
buildings and suspended classes in communities close to the Mexican border due
to the intensity of the earthquake
Although Mexico City is more than 800 kilometres from the
epicentre, some residents reported feeling the tremor, leading to precautionary
evacuations of several high-rise buildings. Mexico and much of Central America
lie along active tectonic plate boundaries, making the region one of the
world's most earthquake-prone areas.
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