The epicenter was located about 135 kilometers southwest of Ciudad Hidalgo, in the state of Chiapas, on the border with Guatemala, at a depth of just 10 kilometers.
Although initially the National Seismological Service estimated a magnitude of 6.8, the figure was later adjusted upwards, while the United States Geological Survey (USGS) placed it at 7.3. Following the strong tremor, which occurred at 08:48 local time, the Mexican Navy Secretariat and the US NOAA activated a tsunami alert due to the risk of sea level variations of up to 105 centimeters on the coasts of Chiapas and Oaxaca. Although the alert was deactivated two hours later upon detecting minor variations, authorities recommended staying away from the beaches.
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, reported through her social media that "authorities at all levels of government are conducting assessments in the territory to evaluate possible structural damage and coordinate preventive measures." Meanwhile, Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo called for calm, urging citizens to "evacuate and not expose themselves and be very attentive to Conred's instructions."
The earthquake led to the evacuation of hundreds of people in hospitals, schools, and public buildings in cities like Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Villahermosa, and Guatemala City. In the capital of Chiapas, workers in tall buildings experienced moments of great tension. "It feels horrible up there," Aracelí Sánchez reported from street level after descending 15 floors by stairs; "there were people who cried," she added.
In Guatemala City, as the Social Security Institute was being evacuated, cries for help could be heard: "Let's not push. Please, let's keep calm!" Regarding personal injuries, although initial reports do not mention any fatalities, a woman in Chiapas was injured after jumping from a third floor during a nervous crisis.
As a precautionary measure, the Guatemalan Ministry of Education has suspended in-person classes in the departments of San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Suchitepéquez, and Retalhuleu. The earthquake was followed by more than 30 aftershocks, some with magnitudes of up to 5.8 and 6.8, keeping the population in a constant state of alert in one of the world's most seismically active regions.