At least two people have been confirmed dead following a strong earthquake that struck southern and central Mexico, causing damage in multiple regions and triggering widespread emergency assessments.
The 6.5-magnitude quake was centred near San Marcos, close to the popular coastal resort city of Acapulco in the south-western state of Guerrero, where authorities reported moderate structural damage. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said a 50-year-old woman died in the state as a result of the earthquake.
In the capital, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the death of a 60-year-old man and said at least 12 people were injured. She added that electricity had been restored to 98 per cent of reported outages across the city by late Friday night.
Mexico lies along the boundary of four major tectonic plates, making it one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Following the quake, emergency teams in Mexico City began inspecting infrastructure as a precaution. Brugada said two structures were being assessed for potential collapse, while 34 buildings and five residential homes were undergoing safety inspections.
According to Reuters, authorities are conducting damage assessments after the quake disrupted roads and hospitals in the capital. In Guerrero state, officials also reported landslides affecting several highways.
Mexico’s national seismological service recorded more than 420 aftershocks by midday local time on Saturday, underscoring the continuing seismic activity.
The earthquake struck as President Claudia Sheinbaum was holding her first press conference of the year. In video footage of the event, Sheinbaum is heard saying “it’s shaking” as the seismic alert system sounds, before instructing those present to evacuate calmly.
Additional videos circulating online show buildings swaying in Mexico City and vehicles visibly shaking in Acapulco. After the Mexican Seismic Alert System was activated, residents and tourists in both cities rushed into the streets seeking safety.
The alert system was introduced following the devastating 1985 earthquake, which killed more than 10,000 people. More recently, a 7.1-magnitude quake in 2017 claimed over 200 lives and caused extensive damage in Mexico City.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks persist and damage evaluations remain ongoing.
