MEXICO CITY (AP) – A powerful earthquake struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, disrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s inaugural press briefing of the year. The tremor registered a magnitude of 6.5 and was centered near the town of San Marcos in the southern state of Guerrero, close to the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, as reported by Mexico’s national seismological agency. In the aftermath, at least two fatalities were confirmed, alongside over 500 aftershocks.
The civil defense agency of Guerrero reported that various landslides occurred around Acapulco and on multiple highways throughout the state. Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed the death of a 50-year-old woman from a small community near the epicenter, whose home collapsed during the quake. Additionally, a hospital in Chilpancingo, Guerrero's capital, suffered significant structural damage, prompting the evacuation of several patients.
In both Mexico City and Acapulco, residents and tourists hurried into the streets as the shaking commenced. Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada noted that one individual died due to a medical emergency that led to a fall while exiting a building. The U.S. Geological Survey indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), approximately 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero, situated in the mountainous region about 57 miles northeast of Acapulco.
Following the earthquake, Sheinbaum resumed her press briefing shortly after the tremor ceased. José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights advocate residing on the highlands overlooking Acapulco, described the event, stating he heard a loud rumbling noise and observed local dogs barking in alarm. “At that moment, the seismic alert went off on my cellphone,” he recounted, adding that the subsequent shaking felt strong and accompanied by considerable noise.
Díaz Taboada commented that the tremors were less intense compared to previous earthquakes he had experienced, noting that he had prepared a backpack with essential items in anticipation of the ongoing aftershocks. He mentioned encountering difficulties in contacting friends located along the Costa Chica, southeast of Acapulco, due to disrupted communications.
The earthquake, with its intense impact on both local residents and infrastructure, has underscored the geological volatility of the region, prompting a response from emergency services and an appeal for public safety awareness as the aftershocks continue to be felt. Officials are currently assessing the damage and mobilizing resources to assist affected communities in both Guerrero and Mexico City.
As the situation continues to develop, authorities remain vigilant in monitoring aftershocks and providing necessary support to those affected by this natural disaster.
