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Two fatalities reported after quake strikes southern Mexico
A 6.5-magnitude earthquake centered near the tourist hub of Acapulco claimed two lives on Friday, Mexican authorities confirmed. The tremor rattled Guerrero state and the capital, prompting emergency assessments across affected areas.
Casualties and injuries
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado announced the death of a 50-year-old woman in the state. Separately, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada reported a 60-year-old man had died in the capital, where 12 others sustained injuries.
Damage and infrastructure impact
Power outages initially affected parts of Mexico City, but Brugada stated late Friday that service had been restored to 98% of reported failures. Authorities are evaluating two structures for potential collapse risks, while 34 buildings and five homes undergo precautionary inspections.
Reuters reported disruptions to roads and hospitals in the capital, along with landslides blocking highways in Guerrero state. The quake's epicenter near San Marcos caused moderate damage in the region.
Aftershocks and emergency response
Mexico's seismological service recorded 420 aftershocks by midday local time (18:00 GMT). President Claudia Sheinbaum was delivering her first press conference of 2026 when the tremor struck. Footage captured her pausing to say, "It's shaking," as the national earthquake alert system activated. She subsequently instructed attendees to evacuate calmly.
"All get out calmly."
President Claudia Sheinbaum during live broadcast
Public reaction and historical context
Videos showed buildings swaying in Mexico City and vehicles trembling in Acapulco. Following the alert, residents and tourists flooded streets in both cities. Mexico's seismic alert system, implemented after the catastrophic 1985 earthquake that killed over 10,000 people, provided advance warning.
The country remains highly vulnerable to earthquakes, situated at the intersection of four tectonic plates. A 7.1-magnitude quake in 2017 killed more than 200 people and destroyed numerous buildings in the capital.
