SerpApi.Org
A Tsunami warning has been issued after a major earthquake struck off the coast of southeastern Mexico.
The 7.3-magnitude quake hit near the state of Chiapas, close to the Guatemalan border at 9.48am local time.
Buildings in Guatemala City, more than 200 miles from the epicentre of the quake, shook. Tremors were also felt in El Salvador.
Initially, there were no reports of significant damage or casualties; the impact of the earthquake is still being assessed by Mexico’s civil protection authorities.
The quake was a shallow one, which normally increases the potential for destruction and increases the area likely to be affected.
There are also fears that, apart from a tsunami, there could be aftershocks capable of endangering buildings.
The earthquake struck some distance away from the major international tourist destinations of Cancún, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, and Puerto Vallarta.
Puerto Madero, with a population of just under 10,000, is the nearest town to where the earthquake struck.
A fishing port, it also serves as a seaside resort for Mexicans, rather than international visitors. There are other small beach resorts in Chiapas, and an extensive tsunami could also affect resorts in the state of Oaxaca.
People in low-lying areas have been advised to move to higher ground until the all-clear is given by the authorities.
They have also been warned that conditions can change swiftly, so potential danger remains.
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Puerto Madero also serves as a gateway to the coastal wetlands of Chiapas, and the state includes a number of major archaeological sites, including the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque and Yaxchilán.
Although tsunamis are uncommon in Mexico, experts believe the country’s Pacific coast is vulnerable.
It is estimated that Mexico has had 26 tsunamis since 1732, claiming 91 lives. This works out as a significant event roughly once a decade.
The Pacific coast is considered more vulnerable, especially states such as Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, Jalisco, and Chiapas.
