Mexico's 7.4 magnitude quake spurs tsunami alerts across Central America
A magnitude‑7.3/7.4 earthquake struck offshore the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, at 08:48 local time on 17 July 2026. The tremor was felt strongly in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco and Campeche and was also perceived in Guatemala, El Salvador and, to a lesser extent, in other Central American locations.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said there were “no reports of damage” and that emergency protocols were activated in the three levels of government. The Navy’s tsunami center issued a temporary warning for the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Guatemala, advising people to stay away from beaches for up to six hours; the alert was later lifted as wave heights were judged insufficient to cause major impact. No casualties or serious injuries were reported in Mexico.
In Guatemala, civil‑protection authorities recorded 58 emergencies and 42 aftershocks, noting one hospitalised person, 11 evacuations, damage to 14 schools and 12 public buildings, but no deaths. El Salvador reported no damage. Aftershocks of up to magnitude 6.8 continued through the day, and authorities in the affected regions kept monitoring for further impacts.
Overall, the event prompted evacuations of buildings, activation of civil‑protection plans, and cross‑border coordination, but no major structural damage or loss of life has been confirmed.