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A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday, triggering panic across the region and prompting officials to issue a tsunami alert for the Pacific coast.
The US Geological Service (USGS) tracked the tremor to a shallow depth of 18 kilometres, locating the epicentre just 48 kilometres off the coast of the Mexican town of Aquiles Serdan.
The intense shaking sent residents fleeing into the streets in the state of Chiapas, where a crowd evacuated the few high-rise buildings in the capital city of Tuxtla Gutierrez.
Neighbours in the state of Oaxaca, as well as residents across nearby Guatemala and El Salvador, also reported feeling the strong tremors.
While the event caused widespread alarm, emergency management authorities have not reported any casualties or injuries.
Following the earthquake, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a tsunami threat alert for the immediate coastline.
Local officials quickly urged residents to move away from the beaches to protect themselves from potential waves.
Addressing the public at a presidential press conference, Marine Secretary Raymundo Morales confirmed that the government has not detected any serious structural damage across the affected states.
