In the North Pacific Ocean 210 kilometer from Tuxtla, Mexico, a significant M5.2 earthquake occurred in the morning of Thursday May 1st, 2025. Another nearby country is Guatemala.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 93 kilometers (58 mi) off the coast of Mexico, 210 kilometer south-southwest of Tuxtla in Chiapas. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 35 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | May 1, 2025 11:00 (Mexico City Time) - May 1, 2025 17:00 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 210 km SSW of Tuxtla, Chiapas, Mexico. Coordinates 15°7'60"N 94°6'49"W. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.2 Detected by 41 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.048 . |
| Depth: | 35 km (22 mi) A quite shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Mexico and Guatemala are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Tonalá in Chiapas, Mexico. Tonalá is located 113 kilometer (70 mi) south-southwest of the epicenter.
Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Tuxtla is located 210 km to the north-northeast. Tapachula is located 201 km to the east. San Cristóbal de las Casas is located 237 km to the north-east.
The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 113 km (70 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Tonalá Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 115 km (71 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Pijijiapan Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 125 km (78 mi) N from epicenter |
Arriaga Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 134 km (83 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Mapastepec Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 152 km (94 mi) NE from epicenter |
Villaflores Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 164 km (102 mi) NW from epicenter |
Salina Cruz Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 174 km (108 mi) NW from epicenter |
Juchitán de Zaragoza Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 177 km (110 mi) E from epicenter |
Huixtla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 178 km (111 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Cintalapa de Figueroa Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 179 km (111 mi) NW from epicenter |
Santo Domingo Tehuantepec Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 191 km (119 mi) NW from epicenter |
Ixtepec Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 198 km (123 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Ocozocoautla de Espinosa Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 198 km (123 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Suchiapa Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 201 km (125 mi) E from epicenter |
Tapachula Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 202 km (126 mi) E from epicenter |
Motozintla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 206 km (128 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Berriozábal Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 210 km (130 mi) E from epicenter |
Cacahoatán Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 210 km (130 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Tuxtla Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 211 km (131 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Chiapa de Corzo Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 213 km (132 mi) NE from epicenter |
Venustiano Carranza Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 218 km (135 mi) NNW from epicenter |
Matías Romero Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 219 km (136 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Comalapa Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 228 km (142 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Crucecita Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 231 km (144 mi) NE from epicenter |
Las Rosas Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 235 km (146 mi) NE from epicenter |
Teopisca Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 237 km (147 mi) NE from epicenter |
San Cristóbal de las Casas Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 245 km (152 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Comitán Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 246 km (153 mi) E from epicenter |
Coatepeque Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 250 km (155 mi) E from epicenter |
San Marcos San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 253 km (157 mi) E from epicenter |
San Pedro Sacatepéquez San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 254 km (158 mi) E from epicenter |
Comitancillo San Marcos, Guatemala. |
| 260 km (162 mi) E from epicenter |
Colomba Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 263 km (163 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Las Margaritas Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 264 km (164 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Jacaltenango Huehuetenango, Guatemala. |
| 267 km (166 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Nuevo San Carlos Retalhuleu, Guatemala. |
| 269 km (167 mi) E from epicenter |
Ostuncalco Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 270 km (168 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Retalhuleu Retalhuleu, Guatemala. |
| 276 km (171 mi) E from epicenter |
La Esperanza Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 278 km (173 mi) E from epicenter |
El Palmar Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 281 km (175 mi) E from epicenter |
Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 284 km (176 mi) E from epicenter |
Huehuetenango Huehuetenango, Guatemala. |
| 288 km (179 mi) E from epicenter |
Cantel Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. |
| 288 km (179 mi) ESE from epicenter |
Mazatenango Suchitepeque, Guatemala. |
| 288 km (179 mi) E from epicenter |
San Francisco El Alto Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
| 291 km (181 mi) E from epicenter |
Momostenango Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
| 292 km (181 mi) NE from epicenter |
Ocosingo Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 292 km (181 mi) E from epicenter |
San Pablo Jocopilas Suchitepeque, Guatemala. |
| 296 km (184 mi) NNE from epicenter |
Teapa Tabasco, Mexico. |
| 296 km (184 mi) NE from epicenter |
Yajalón Chiapas, Mexico. |
| 297 km (185 mi) WNW from epicenter |
Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz Oaxaca, Mexico. |
| 297 km (185 mi) E from epicenter |
Totonicapán Totonicapán, Guatemala. |
Shaking reported by 2 people
People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 2 people have reported shaking in 2 places in 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:
- Coacalco, México, Mexico: 1 person.
- Tlalnepantla, México, Mexico: 1 person.
10 Aftershocks detected
Since this main shock, 10 smaller aftershocks were detected. A 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit 18 hrs later 13 km (8 mi) south-southwest of this earthquake.
This main shock was prefaced by 5 smaller foreshocks. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 1 day earlier. It measured a magnitude of 4.2
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 4.2 |
1 day earlier Apr 30, 2025 04:09 (Mexico City Time) | 89 km (55 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.9 |
1 day earlier Apr 30, 2025 04:44 (Mexico City Time) | 74 km (46 mi) ESE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.7 |
19 hrs earlier Apr 30, 2025 15:52 (Mexico City Time) | 28 km (17 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.7 |
18 hrs earlier Apr 30, 2025 16:36 (Mexico City Time) | 26 km (16 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.5 |
18 hrs earlier Apr 30, 2025 16:54 (Mexico City Time) | 90 km (56 mi) ENE from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock This Earthquake |
M 5.2 |
May 1, 2025 11:00 (Mexico City Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 3.9 |
3 hrs later May 1, 2025 13:53 (Mexico City Time) | 21 km (13 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.8 |
4 hrs later May 1, 2025 15:17 (Mexico City Time) | 10 km (6 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.7 |
5 hrs later May 1, 2025 15:41 (Mexico City Time) | 10 km (6 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.9 |
14 hrs later May 2, 2025 01:15 (Mexico City Time) | 15 km (9 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.8 |
18 hrs later May 2, 2025 04:44 (Mexico City Time) | 23 km (14 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.2 |
18 hrs later May 2, 2025 05:00 (Mexico City Time) | 13 km (8 mi) SSW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.7 |
2 days later May 3, 2025 01:21 (Mexico City Time) | 53 km (33 mi) NNE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.8 |
2 days later May 3, 2025 12:52 (Mexico City Time) | 30 km (18 mi) S from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.9 |
3 days later May 4, 2025 02:45 (Mexico City Time) | 62 km (38 mi) WNW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.9 |
3 days later May 4, 2025 03:39 (Mexico City Time) | 72 km (45 mi) NW from Main Shock. |
More earthquakes coming?
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).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 March 5th, 2025, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 102 km (64 mi) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck on September 8th, 2017.
In total, 95 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 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 month.
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
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 35 km (22 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 19/05/25 19:18 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000pwdx
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250501_0000224
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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