6.5 magnitude earthquake shakes Mexico City and southern regions

Friday 02 January 2026 - 14:47

By: Dakir Madiha

6.5 magnitude earthquake shakes Mexico City and southern regions

A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck southern Mexico on Friday morning, sending tremors through the capital and prompting widespread evacuations. The quake, centered in the state of Guerrero near the Pacific coast, rattled buildings across central Mexico, activating seismic alarms in Mexico City and causing residents to flee into the streets. Early assessments from authorities indicate no major structural damage or casualties, though inspections continue amid the region's vulnerability to seismic activity.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, in her first press conference of the year, had the briefing interrupted by the shaking but quickly resumed after confirming coordination with local officials in Guerrero. She assured the public that monitoring efforts were underway, emphasizing the swift response from emergency teams. The event underscores Mexico's ongoing preparedness in a tectonically active zone, where subduction along the Pacific plate boundary frequently generates such events.

The U.S. Geological Survey pinpointed the epicenter roughly 4 kilometers north-northwest of Rancho Viejo in Guerrero, at a moderate depth of about 35 kilometers, which likely mitigated more severe surface impacts. Witnesses in Mexico City described intense swaying that halted daily routines, while coastal areas near Acapulco braced for potential aftershocks. Officials urged caution as evaluations proceed, reflecting the nation's resilient infrastructure honed by past quakes.