A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, January 2, 2026, sending residents and tourists into the streets and briefly interrupting the first press briefing of the year by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Seismic Event Details and Immediate Impact
The tremor's epicenter was located near the town of San Marcos in the Pacific coast state of Guerrero, close to the resort city of Acapulco, as reported by Mexico's national seismological agency. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), approximately 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo in the mountains northeast of Acapulco.
The shaking prompted immediate evacuations in both Mexico City and Acapulco, with people rushing from buildings as seismic alarms sounded. In Acapulco, tourists were seen gathered outside their hotels following the evacuation orders.
Response and Reported Damage
Guerrero's state civil defense agency reported various landslides around Acapulco and on other highways in the region. However, initial assessments suggested no catastrophic damage. President Sheinbaum, who resumed her press conference shortly after the event, stated she had spoken with Guerrero’s Governor, Evelyn Salgado.
"The governor informed me that there are no reports of serious damage at this time," Sheinbaum conveyed to the media, offering a measure of relief amid the disruption.
Firsthand Accounts from the Epicenter Region
José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor and human rights defender living in the hills surrounding Acapulco, described the moments leading up to the quake. He reported hearing a strong rumbling noise and neighborhood dogs barking incessantly.
"In that moment the seismic alert went off on my cell phone," Díaz Taboada said, "and then the shaking began to feel strong with a lot of noise." He noted that the intensity felt lighter than during some previous earthquakes but that he had prepared an essentials backpack ready for potential evacuation as aftershocks continued.
Communications were disrupted in some areas, with Díaz Taboada mentioning he had been unable to reach friends living along the Costa Chica southeast of Acapulco due to cut lines.
Context and Preparedness
Mexico, particularly its Pacific coast, is situated in a highly seismically active zone. The event on January 2 underscores the constant threat and the importance of the country's early warning alarm system, which was activated in this instance. The quick public and governmental response highlights ongoing preparedness efforts for such natural events.
While this 6.5 magnitude quake caused alarm and minor disruptions like landslides, the absence of major structural damage or significant injuries reported so far points to both the quake's characteristics and the effectiveness of evacuation protocols.
