Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Off Southern Mexico Coast, Triggering Landslides

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off southern Mexico's coast, shaking the region and triggering landslides caught on video.

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck off the western coast of southern Mexico, strong enough to trigger landslides and send shockwaves across Central America into Guatemala. The United States Geological Survey officially recorded the quake's magnitude and location off the southern Mexican coast. The event disrupted morning routines across the region, with the tremors felt well beyond the epicenter. Social media footage circulating after the quake showed at least one truck driving downhill as a wave of dirt and rocks cascaded nearby — visual evidence of the landslide activity the earthquake set off in hillside terrain. Earthquakes of this magnitude in this zone are not uncommon; the region sits along a seismically active stretch of the Pacific coast where tectonic plates meet, making it one of the more earthquake-prone areas in the Western Hemisphere.

Why it matters

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake is considered a major seismic event capable of causing significant structural damage and secondary hazards like landslides. Residents across southern Mexico and Guatemala were directly affected.

Key facts

• The earthquake measured magnitude 7.4, according to the U.S. Geological Survey
• The epicenter was located off the western coast of southern Mexico
• Shaking was felt across the region including Guatemala
• Landslides were triggered, with video showing debris cascading near a moving truck
• The quake struck in the morning, disrupting residents across Central America

Bias & framing notes

Both sources are from the same outlet (TMZ), so there is no independent corroboration. TMZ's coverage leans on dramatic framing ('Insane,' 'Wild,' 'massive') and social media video rather than on-the-ground reporting. The core seismic facts are attributed to the USGS, which is a reliable primary source, but damage details and broader impact are not substantively reported.