BMKG: 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake in Mexico Poses No Tsunami Threat to Indonesia

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 struck Mexico, but Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has stated that it does not pose a tsunami threat to Indonesia. The tectonic earthquake occurred at 21:48:41 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) in the southwest of Tapachula, Mexico, at a depth of 30 kilometres. “The epicentre of the earthquake is located at coordinates 14.62°N; 92.78°W, precisely in the sea 59 kilometres southwest of Tapachula, Mexico. Tsunami modelling results show that this earthquake does not have the potential to cause a tsunami in Indonesian territory,” said Wijayanto, BMKG’s Director of Earthquakes and Tsunamis, in a statement on Friday evening. BMKG noted that the earthquake was a shallow type resulting from subduction activity. The agency’s source mechanism analysis indicated the earthquake had a thrust fault movement mechanism. “As of 22:37 WIB, BMKG monitoring has recorded one aftershock activity with a magnitude of 6.0. We urge the public to remain calm and not be influenced by unverified issues, and to avoid buildings that are cracked or damaged due to the earthquake,” he added. According to reports from AFP, Ynet Global, and Anadolu Ajansı (AA) on Friday, the epicentre was located off Puerto Madero, Chiapas, in southern Mexico. The earthquake occurred at 08:48 local time. The US Geological Survey reported that the earthquake triggered a tsunami warning. The 7.3 magnitude quake caused moderate to strong shaking along the coastal region and was felt in buildings as far away as Guatemala and El Salvador.