EARTHQUAKE MEASURING 7.4 MAGNITUDE STRIKES MEXICO-GUATEMALA BORDER

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck near Puerto Madero, a port and fishing town approximately eight miles from the Guatemala-Mexico border, according to the United States Geological Survey. The quake occurred at a depth of 6.21 miles off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. A tsunami warning was issued following the tremor, with a potential threat reported to parts of the Pacific Ocean near the epicentre. Video footage shared on social media showed people evacuating from an office building, though no visible structural damage was apparent in the recordings.

The United States Geological Survey stated that building stock in the affected region comprises a mixture of vulnerable and earthquake-resistant construction. Adobe block with concrete bond beam and mud wall construction represented the predominant vulnerable building types in the area, the organisation said. The survey also warned that liquefaction could affect an extensive area and population. Liquefaction occurs when water-saturated soil or granular material temporarily loses strength during seismic events, as ground shaking increases soil water pressure and forces sand grains apart. Buildings in Guatemala City shook during the earthquake, prompting residents to evacuate on to streets from their homes.

Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America and shares borders with Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. The earthquake prompted immediate evacuation orders as authorities assessed the extent of damage and monitored the developing tsunami threat.