A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico, killing two people and injuring dozens as residents and tourists fled buildings in Mexico City and Acapulco. The quake, centered near San Marcos in Guerrero, was felt more than 250 miles away, highlighting Mexico’s vulnerability to seismic activity.
A powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring several. Officials said there did not appear to be major damage from the quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.5. Its epicenter was near the town of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero, near the Pacific coastal resort town of Acapulco.
It occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles, 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero. The quake was felt more than 250 miles away in Mexico City.
Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco rushed into the streets when the shaking began.
Karen Gomez, a 47-year-old office worker living on the 13th floor of an apartment building in Mexico City, told Agence France-Presse that a siren woke her up.
“I woke up in terror. My cellphone alert said it was a powerful earthquake,” she said.
The civil defense agency reported various landslides around Acapulco and on other highways in the state.
Local officials said a 60-year-old man in Mexico City died of his injuries after falling while evacuating his second-floor apartment in the capital, AFP reported. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the death in a statement posted on social media. In a separate statement on social media, she said at least 12 people were injured in the quake.
The second death was reported nearby in Guerrero. Gov. Evelyn Salgado told reporters a 50-year-old woman died after her home collapsed.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose first press briefing of the new year was interrupted by the quake, said she spoke with Salgado, who initially told her there was no serious damage reported.
José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights defender who lives on one of the peaks ringing Acapulco, said he heard a strong rumbling noise and all the neighborhood dogs began barking.
“In that moment the seismic alert went off on my cellphone,” he said, “and then the shaking began to feel strong with a lot of noise.”
He said the shaking was lighter than in some previous quakes and he had prepared a backpack of essentials to be ready to leave as the aftershocks continued.
He said he had been unable to reach some friends who live along the Costa Chica, southeast of Acapulco, because communications were cut.
Mexico is situated between five tectonic plates and is one of the world’s most seismically active countries.
In January 2025, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook a region of southwest Mexico. The tremor was about five miles from Coalcoman de Vazquez Pallares, a municipality of around 20,000 people, about 372 miles west of Mexico City. The quake struck at a depth of 53 miles.
In 1985, an 8.1 magnitude quake centered on the Pacific coast ravaged much of central and southern Mexico, killing thousands and causing severe damage in Mexico City.
A 7.1-magnitude quake on Sept. 19, 2017, killed 369 people, most of them in the capital.
Exactly five years later, on the same date in 2022, central Mexico was hit by another quake, just hours after millions of people had taken part in a mock earthquake safety exercise. The repercussions of the 7.6 magnitude quake extended as far as 1,500 miles north, where four-foot-tall waves began churning inside a Death Valley cave called Devils Hole.
Read more about Mexico’s seismic history and preparedness at CBS News and CBS News.
Why This Matters for Residents and Travelers
The latest quake underscores the persistent threat of seismic activity in Mexico, a nation where tectonic instability is not just a natural phenomenon but a defining feature of daily life for millions. The fact that the tremor was felt across the country — from Acapulco to Mexico City — reveals the scale of risk, even for those not in the epicenter. For tourists, the event highlights the need for emergency preparedness, even in popular resort areas.
For residents, the incident reinforces the importance of earthquake drills and the use of seismic alert systems — a tool that proved critical in waking residents like Karen Gomez. The government’s response, while swift, also exposed gaps in communication infrastructure, as some residents were unable to reach loved ones due to disrupted networks.
Historical Context: Mexico’s Earthquake Legacy
Mexico’s seismic history is marked by catastrophic events that have shaped its infrastructure, emergency protocols, and public consciousness. The 1985 quake, which killed thousands and exposed the vulnerability of Mexico City’s aging buildings, led to major reforms in urban planning and building codes. The 2017 quake, which killed 369, was a sobering reminder that even modern cities remain at risk.
The 2022 quake — which occurred on the same date as the 2017 event — was a chilling echo, demonstrating that the country’s seismic memory is not just historical but cyclical. The fact that the 2022 quake triggered waves in Death Valley, thousands of miles away, underscores the global reach of seismic events — a phenomenon that scientists continue to study for better prediction and preparedness.
What Comes Next: Preparedness and Policy
As Mexico continues to grapple with seismic risk, the focus must shift from reaction to prevention. The government must invest in resilient infrastructure, expand seismic alert coverage, and ensure that emergency response systems are robust and accessible to all communities — including those in remote areas like the Costa Chica.
For travelers, the lesson is clear: always have an emergency kit, know the evacuation routes, and stay informed via official channels. For residents, the priority should be reinforcing home safety measures and participating in regular drills — not just for the sake of preparedness, but for the sake of survival.
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For more insights on Mexico’s seismic history and preparedness, visit our Mexico Earthquake Preparedness section.
