Shallow M5.8 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 102km from Tapachula (Mexico) on Friday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on October 25th, 2024. Last updated December 24th, 2024.

In the morning of Friday October 25th, 2024, a shallow and significant M5.8 earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean 102 kilometer from Tapachula, Mexico. Roughly 9 million people may have felt this earthquake. Guatemala and El Salvador are also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 70 kilometers (43 mi) off the coast of Mexico, 102 kilometer south-southwest of Tapachula in Chiapas. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 17 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Oct 25, 2024 09:46 (Mexico City Time) - Oct 25, 2024 14:46 Universal Time.
Location:	102 km SSW of Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. Coordinates 14°4'28"N 92°39'43"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.8 Detected by 35 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.052 .
Depth:	17 km (11 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 9 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 9 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 1,233,000 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 8 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 8 million people were exposed to shaking in Guatemala , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Mexico , around 1.3 million people.

Nearby towns and cities

3 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Mexico , Guatemala and El Salvador .

Located 102 kilometer (63 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Tapachula (Chiapas, Mexico) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Tapachula is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Guatemala City is located 240 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Mixco is located 230 km to the east-northeast (intensity unknown, possibly low). Tapachula is located 102 km to the north-northeast and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is IV.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 6 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 6 people have reported shaking in 5 places in 2 countries (Guatemala, Mexico).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Olintepeque, Quezaltenango, Guatemala: 2 people.
• Guatemala, Guatemala, Guatemala: 1 person.
• Santa Catarina Pinula, Guatemala, Guatemala: 1 person.
• Conguaco, Jutiapa, Guatemala: 1 person.
• Tlalnepantla, México, Mexico: 1 person.

7 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 7 smaller aftershocks occurred. At a distance of 68 km (42 mi) north-northwest of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 2 days later. It measured a magnitude of 4.4

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 12 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 4.1

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Earthquakes like this happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 12th, 2024, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 45 km (28 mi) further north-northeast. An even stronger magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck on September 8th, 2017.

In total, 30 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.8 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 4 months.

Low tsunami risk

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Sources

Last updated 24/12/24 06:58 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000nn6t
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20241025_0000178
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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