Big Earthquake Shakes Southern Mexico and Nearby Countries

What Happened?

On Friday, a very strong earthquake hit southern Mexico. It was so powerful that people felt it in nearby countries called Guatemala and El Salvador too.

The US Geological Survey (or USGS for short—this is a science group in the United States that watches for earthquakes) measured the earthquake at a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

Important Point: A magnitude of 7.3 is considered a powerful earthquake. "Preliminary" means this is the first quick measurement and might change a little later.

Where Was the Earthquake?

The USGS says the earthquake started at a spot called the epicenter. Think of the epicenter like the exact point on the ground right above where the shaking began underground.

• The epicenter was 48 kilometers southwest of a town named Aquiles Serdán.
• Aquiles Serdán is in Chiapas, which is a coastal state (a region next to the ocean) in Mexico.

How Bad Was the Shaking?

The earthquake seems to have caused:

• Moderate shaking in some places
• Severe shaking along the coast

This means the ground moved enough to be scary or even dangerous, especially near the ocean.

A Note on This Story

This is a developing story and will be updated.
That means new information may come out, and news groups will add more details as they learn them.

Summary

A strong 7.3-magnitude earthquake hit southern Mexico on Friday and was felt in Guatemala and El Salvador. Its epicenter was 48 km southwest of Aquiles Serdán in Chiapas, Mexico, and it caused moderate to severe shaking along the coast. This is still a developing story.

FAQ

1. What does "magnitude 7.3" mean in simple words?
It is a number that tells us how strong the earthquake was. A 7.3 is a big, powerful quake that can cause a lot of shaking.

2. What is an epicenter?
The epicenter is the spot on the Earth’s surface directly above where the earthquake started underground.

3. Why does it say "preliminary" magnitude?
Because scientists measured it quickly at first. They may update the number after they study it more.

4. What does "developing story" mean?
It means the news is still happening or being learned, and more updates will come later.