At a Glance
- 6.5-magnitude quake struck Guerrero, near Acapulco.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum‘s first press briefing was interrupted.
- Landslides reported around Acapulco; no serious damage confirmed.
- Why it matters: Residents and tourists were jolted across Mexico, and authorities are monitoring aftershocks.
A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico on Friday, shattering the calm of President Claudia Sheinbaum‘s first press briefing of the year and prompting emergency alerts across the region.
Earthquake Details
Mexico’s national seismological agency reported the quake’s epicenter near the town of San Marcos in Guerrero, about 57 miles northeast of Acapulco. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a depth of 21.7 miles, 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo.
- Magnitude: 6.5
- Epicenter: San Marcos, Guerrero
- Depth: 21.7 miles
- Distance to Acapulco: 57 miles
Impact and Response
The state’s civil defense agency said landslides occurred on highways around Acapulco. Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets when the shaking began.
- Landslides on local highways
- No serious damage reported by Gov. Evelyn Salgado
- Communications cut to friends along Costa Chica
Personal Accounts
José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights defender living on a peak near Acapulco, described the quake as a rumble that made dogs bark and prompted his cell phone to alert him.
> “In that moment the seismic alert went off on my cell phone,” he said, “and then the shaking began to feel strong with a lot of noise.”
He had prepared a backpack of essentials, and aftershocks continued to shake the area, cutting communications to friends along the Costa Chica southeast of Acapulco.
Key Takeaways
- 6.5-magnitude quake struck Guerrero, causing landslides but no major damage.
- President Sheinbaum’s briefing was disrupted, but authorities confirmed no serious damage.
- Residents remain on alert as aftershocks continue.
The quake, while not causing major damage, underscores the region’s seismic vulnerability and the need for continued preparedness.
