A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Mexico on Friday morning (January 2), leaving at least two people dead and causing widespread panic.

The quake hit around 8:00 AM local time, with its effects felt as far as the capital, Mexico City. Authorities have since recorded over 500 aftershocks.

Chaos at the National Palace

The earthquake occurred while President Claudia Sheinbaum was holding a live press briefing at the National Palace. As the seismic alarms began to wail, the President, journalists, and staff immediately evacuated the hall.

In a show of calm, President Sheinbaum returned to the podium shortly after the initial tremors subsided to resume the briefing and provide updates on the situation.

Casualties and Regional Damage

Reports from the Associated Press (AP) confirmed two fatalities related to the seismic event:

• Guerrero State: Governor Evelyn Salgado reported that a 50-year-old woman died when a building collapsed near the epicenter.
• Mexico City: Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed one death involving a person who suffered a fatal fall while attempting to evacuate a building.

Key Structural Damage:

• Chilpancingo: Significant damage was reported at a major hospital in the state capital of Guerrero, forcing a full evacuation of patients.
• Acapulco: Local civil defense agencies reported multiple landslides on highways surrounding the resort city and throughout the state.

Technical Details of the Quake

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Mexico’s National Seismological Service:

• Magnitude: 6.5
• Depth: 21.7 miles (35 kilometers).
• Epicenter: Located approximately 2.5 miles northwest of Rancho Viejo in the mountainous Guerrero region, about 57 miles northeast of the coastal resort city of Acapulco.

Residents Take to the Streets

In both Mexico City and Acapulco, residents fled homes and offices as the ground shook, staying in the streets for hours fearing strong aftershocks. While Mexico City’s early warning system provided seconds of notice, the intensity of the vibration caused significant alarm in a region still scarred by past seismic disasters.