Mexico: Fatalities and damages reported following 7.4 magnitude earthquake near Santa Maria Zapotitlan (Oaxaca State) June 23; monitor local media sources /update 1

Event

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 hit near Santa Maria Zapotitlan (Oaxaca State) on Tuesday morning (local time), on June 23, resulting in the death of at least four people and causing damage to infrastructure in the surrounding areas. Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat stated that fatalities were reported due to the collapse of a building in Huatulco, as well as in the mountain village of San Juan Ozolotepect. Reports also state that paved roads buckled, isolated villages were cut off, and minor infrastructural damages including broken windows and collapsed walls occurred as a result of the earthquake. 

Initial tsunami warnings were also issued for the Pacific coastline in Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Guatemala, however, they were all called off once the threat of a tsunami had passed.

Context

On Tuesday, June 23, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded a 7.4 magnitude earthquake 11 km (7 miles) SSW of Santa María Zapotitlán. The earthquake struck at a depth of 23.3 km (14.5 miles) at 10:29 (local time).

Advice

Individuals in the affected areas are advised to monitor the situation and prepare for potential aftershocks.

In the event of aftershocks, individuals are advised to protect themselves as much as possible from falling debris if indoors (e.g., under a table), move away from windows, and not attempt to leave a building unless there is immediate danger. If outdoors, move away from tall buildings, utility wires, and streetlights.