Mexico: A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs southwest of Chiapas State at around 10:21 Dec. 14

A magnitude-5.0 earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Chiapas State, Mexico, and the western coast of Guatemala at around 10:21 Dec. 14. The epicenter was about 64 km (40 miles) southwest of Puerto Madero, Chiapas. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 51 km (32 miles), and light shaking was probably felt throughout parts of Chiapas State and in coastal areas of Guatemala. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Light aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.