Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes Mexican coast; triggers tsunami threat

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Mexico's southern state of Chiapas on Friday, triggering a tsunami warning for areas within 300km of the epicentre and sending tremors across parts of Central America. Neighbouring countries such as El Salvador and Guatemala were also rocked by the massive seismic activity.According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred near the Mexican city of Puerto Madero at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, increasing the likelihood of strong ground shaking in nearby areas and tsunami waves.The first major quake was followed by multiple aftershocks, with the strongest among them measuring magnitude 6.1.Visuals shared on social media showed buildings shaking violently and objects falling from shelves and walls, while residents were seen evacuating buildings across the region. BREAKING: Powerful 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Off Mexico's Pacific Coast!A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has struck off the southwestern coast of Mexico, approximately 71 km west-southwest of Puerto Madero, at a depth of 10 km, according to the USGS. pic.twitter.com/YjIJPY3Qs9— Disaster Zone (@Disaster_X_) July 17, 2026 Following the quake, the US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami threat alert for the region, warning of the potential for hazardous sea-level changes along affected coastlines. It said waves of up to one metre above the normal tide level are possible along parts of the coasts of Guatemala and Mexico.The tremor was felt beyond Mexico's borders, with buildings shaking in Guatemala City and prompting evacuations. Residents in neighbouring El Salvador also reported feeling the earthquake, news agency Reuters reported. Multiple aftershocks also struck the region, with seismological agencies reporting preliminary magnitudes of 5.2, 4.5 and 6.1.BREAKING: 7.4 magnitude earthquake just slammed the coast of Chiapas, Mexico - felt hard in Guatemala and El Salvador.People are pouring out of buildings in Guatemala right now.Watch the chaos unfold pic.twitter.com/7zgCbpGAa5— Predictivemoney (@Predictivemoney) July 17, 2026Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said there were no immediate reports of damage in the states of Chiapas and Tabasco following the earthquake. Authorities were monitoring the situation as assessments continued in affected areas.Guatemalan President, Bernardo Arevalo, also confirmed, "So far, there are no fatalities, and we are monitoring the situation minute by minute". "I call on the population to remain calm and to follow the recommendations for these cases," he added.A 7.4 magnitude earthquake is classified as 'Major' earthquake. Events of this size are highly destructive and can cause widespread devastation across large areas.- EndsPublished On: Jul 17, 2026 20:42 IST