Magnitude 6.5 Earthquake Shakes Southern Mexico, Triggering Alerts and Evacuations

On Friday at 7:58 AM, and again at 2:58 PM Italian time, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the state of Guerrero in southern Mexico. The earthquake, monitored by the US Geological Survey (USGS), had its epicenter located in a mountainous area approximately ninety kilometers east of Acapulco, at a depth of 35 kilometers. The tremor caused several landslides and was felt across a wide area, including in Mexico City, the country's capital, where a seismic alert was activated. During this period, Acapulco is bustling with thousands of vacationers, and while no significant damage has been reported, precautionary evacuations of houses and hotels were implemented. According to Clara Brugada, the head of the Mexico City government, there were 12 reported injuries in the city. Tragically, a man died while leaving his home due to the seismic alert. Additionally, the earthquake led to an unexpected interruption during the first press conference of the year led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, as over a hundred journalists and staff members exited the room in an orderly manner before the session resumed shortly after. In the hours following the initial quake, numerous aftershocks were recorded throughout the morning, indicating a continued seismic activity in the region. As the recovery efforts and assessments began, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure public safety. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2