Mexico's 7.3 Quake Sparks Brief Tsunami Scare, No Casualties Reported

A powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of southern Mexico on Friday, prompting a tsunami warning for parts of the Pacific that was later lifted. No fatalities or significant damage have been reported in Mexico or neighbouring Guatemala and El Salvador, where the tremor was also felt.

Mexico's navy secretary, Admiral Raymundo Morales, told a press conference that there was 'no serious impact' but advised people to stay away from beaches as a precaution. The US Tsunami Warning System had initially warned of possible 'hazardous tsunami waves' along the nearby coasts of Mexico and Guatemala. It later recorded waves of 0.3 metres (1.1 feet) above tide level in Puerto Madero and Chiapas in Mexico.

Several hours after the initial warning, the centre said the threat had passed but advised people in affected areas to 'remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea.' The quake struck near the fishing town of Puerto Madero at 08:49 local time (14:49 GMT) at a depth of 15.2 kilometres (9 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Governor Salomón Jara Cruz of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca said the quake was felt with 'moderate intensity' but no significant damage was reported. Eduardo Ramírez, governor of Chiapas, the state closest to the epicentre, also reported no serious impact but instructed his cabinet to suspend administrative activities and urged the private sector to do the same.

In Guatemala and El Salvador, the tremor shook buildings, triggering evacuations and causing some people to run from their homes, according to Reuters news agency. A series of aftershocks, with magnitudes between 4.7 and 6, have been recorded since the initial quake.