Mexico earthquake LIVE: Tsunami threat after huge tremor rocks Guatemala

1 hour ago 1

People are urgently evacuating buildings.

Mexico earthquake: USGS map shows location of epicentre

A huge earthquake has rocked Guatemala City, with fears that a tsunami could also hit as people evacuate buildings and run for their lives. The 7.4 magnitude quake was recorded near the coast of Chiapas, Mexico, the ⁠United States ‌Geological Survey said.

It struck Puerto Madero, a port and fishing town roughly eight miles from the Guatemalan border, and measured a depth of 6.21 miles. There is now a tsunami threat to parts of the Pacific near where the earthquake struck.

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Guatemala earthquake

A huge earthquake has rocked Guatemala (Image: -)

2 mins ago17:11 Rebecca Robinson

No deaths reported so far

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo said there have been no deaths reported so far.

He wrote on X: "The @ConredGuatemala system is active and deploying plans in response to the 5.6 magnitude earthquake recorded with its epicenter in Quetzaltenango.

"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."

8 mins ago17:05 Rebecca Robinson

Danger to life warning issued

The US Tsunami Warning System said: "Persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown... be crushed by debris in the water... or be swept to sea."

13 mins ago17:00 Rebecca Robinson

Tsunami advice issued

The US Tsunami Warning System said: "Government agencies responsible for threatened coastal areas should take action to inform and instruct any coastal populations at risk in accordance with their own evaluation... procedures and the level of threat.

"Persons located in threatened areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities."

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19 mins ago16:54 Rebecca Robinson

1m tsunami waves possible

Tsunami waves between 0.3m and 1m are possible for some coastal areas of Guatemala and Mexico, the US Tsunami Warning System said.

Waves are forecast to be less than 0.3m along Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.

24 mins ago16:49 Rebecca Robinson

Residents evacuate in Guatemala City

The earthquake shook buildings and prompted some residents to evacuate in Guatemala City, Guatemala's capital, a witness told Reuters.

Staff were seen evacuating a government building in videos captured by local media.

29 mins ago16:44 Rebecca Robinson

'Extensive' liquefaction impacts

The US Geological Survey warned that liquefaction could affect an extensive area and population.

Liquefaction is a process where a solid material, such as water-saturated soil or granular material, temporarily loses its strength and stiffness and behaves like a liquid.

This most commonly occurs during seismic events such as earthquakes, when ground shaking increases soil water pressure and forces sand grains apart.

34 mins ago16:39 Rebecca Robinson

Locals 'vulnerable' to earthqauek

The US Geological Survey said: "Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are adobe block with concrete bond beam and mud wall construction."

38 mins ago16:35 Rebecca Robinson

Evacuations underway

A video shared on social media appears to show a large number of people evacuated from an office block following the earthquake.

43 mins ago16:30 Rebecca Robinson

What does 7.3 magnitude mean?

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake is a major earthquake that releases a massive amount of energy, roughly equivalent to about 15 times the explosive yield of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

It can cause severe, widespread damage in populated areas and often triggers tsunami alerts when centred near the ocean.

46 mins ago16:27 Rebecca Robinson

Tsunami warning in place

A tsunami warning is now in place for parts of the Pacific near where the earthquake began, the US Geological Survey said. "Hazardous tsunami waves" are possible for coastal areas within 186 miles of the quake's epicentre, it added.

50 mins ago16:23 Rebecca Robinson