Chiapas earthquake: Magnitude 5.0 tremor strikes south of Mapastepec

A preliminary magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck south of Mapastepec, Chiapas, on the morning of October 16, 2026. According to the Servicio Sismológico Nacional (SSN), the tremor occurred at 05:39 hours with an epicenter located 26 kilometers south of Mapastepec at a depth of 29 kilometers.

Recent seismic activity in the region has been frequent. Reports from October 15 indicate multiple tremors across southern Mexico, including Chiapas, Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Tabasco. These movements are attributed to the interaction of five tectonic plates: the Caribbean, North American, Pacific, Rivera, and Cocos plates.