A powerful earthquake hit the southern Pacific coast of Mexico on Friday, near the Guatemalan border. Felt from Mexico City to El Salvador, the quake has not yet resulted in reports of severe damage or casualties in any country.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3. The epicenter was 48 kilometers (30 miles) southwest of Aquiles Serdan, close to the Chiapas coast, at a depth of 15 kilometers (9 miles). A smaller quake occurred earlier, with the epicenter further out in the ocean.

In Tapachula, a key city on Mexico’s southern border, the tremor started gently but grew in intensity. Alejandra Mendoza, who works at a public hospital, shared that staff evacuated in an orderly manner when the shaking intensified.

“We were upstairs on the second floor when it started shaking; we thought it would pass, but then it got stronger, so we all went downstairs and evacuated in an orderly manner to the front courtyard,” Mendoza explained.

In Guatemala City, the prolonged duration of the earthquake worried residents, prompting many to rush into the streets during the morning rush hour. In Mexico City, some buildings shook, though the earthquake alert did not activate. Officials stated that the initial energy from the quake did not meet the required activation thresholds.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum indicated that preliminary investigations showed no significant damage. As a precaution, the navy advised avoiding beaches for six hours due to tsunami risk. In Suchiate, a town along the river dividing Mexico and Guatemala, Mayor Elmer Vázquez Gallardo stated that coastal areas are being watched for any tsunami threat.

The region, prone to earthquakes, often faces deadly outcomes. Earlier this year, an earthquake hit southern and central Mexico, leaving two people dead. In 2017, a 7.1 magnitude quake resulted in hundreds of deaths in Mexico City.