Strong Earthquake Hits Southern Mexico, Leaves Two Dead and Thousands Shaken
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 magnitude struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, killing at least two people and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The quake's epicenter was located near the town of San Marcos in Guerrero state, about 57 miles northeast of Acapulco.
The quake caused widespread chaos as seismic alarms sounded across the region, prompting residents to rush into the streets and buildings to evacuate. In Mexico City, tourists and locals alike scrambled for safety, with one person reportedly succumbing to an apparent medical emergency that led to a fatal fall while trying to flee a building.
Meanwhile, Governor Evelyn Salgado of Guerrero state confirmed that a 50-year-old woman in a nearby community died when her home collapsed during the quake. The state's civil defense agency also reported multiple landslides on highways and around Acapulco.
In addition to the loss of life, several buildings suffered significant damage, including a hospital in Chilpancingo, Guerrero's capital. Authorities evacuated patients from the affected facility due to structural concerns.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 35 kilometers and was located about 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero. The quake triggered over 500 aftershocks across the region.
President Claudia Sheinbaum briefly interrupted her first press briefing of the year to address the situation before resuming her remarks.
Residents in Acapulco reported that while the shaking was intense, it was less severe than previous earthquakes. Some residents had prepared emergency kits and evacuated their homes ahead of the quake, but many more were caught off guard by the sudden seismic activity.
Communication networks in some areas, including parts of the Costa Chica region southeast of Acapulco, were also reportedly disrupted during the quake, making it difficult for people to contact loved ones.
A powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 magnitude struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, killing at least two people and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The quake's epicenter was located near the town of San Marcos in Guerrero state, about 57 miles northeast of Acapulco.
The quake caused widespread chaos as seismic alarms sounded across the region, prompting residents to rush into the streets and buildings to evacuate. In Mexico City, tourists and locals alike scrambled for safety, with one person reportedly succumbing to an apparent medical emergency that led to a fatal fall while trying to flee a building.
Meanwhile, Governor Evelyn Salgado of Guerrero state confirmed that a 50-year-old woman in a nearby community died when her home collapsed during the quake. The state's civil defense agency also reported multiple landslides on highways and around Acapulco.
In addition to the loss of life, several buildings suffered significant damage, including a hospital in Chilpancingo, Guerrero's capital. Authorities evacuated patients from the affected facility due to structural concerns.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 35 kilometers and was located about 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, Guerrero. The quake triggered over 500 aftershocks across the region.
President Claudia Sheinbaum briefly interrupted her first press briefing of the year to address the situation before resuming her remarks.
Residents in Acapulco reported that while the shaking was intense, it was less severe than previous earthquakes. Some residents had prepared emergency kits and evacuated their homes ahead of the quake, but many more were caught off guard by the sudden seismic activity.
Communication networks in some areas, including parts of the Costa Chica region southeast of Acapulco, were also reportedly disrupted during the quake, making it difficult for people to contact loved ones.
my heart goes out to all those affected, especially in Guerrero state where it was most intense. i feel bad for the poor folks who didn't have time to prepare and just had to react on instinct. safety first, you know? but seriously though, this is like, a huge wake-up call... like, we gotta take earthquakes more seriously, ppl need to be prepared and have emergency plans in place 
also can't believe communication networks got disrupted too, that's just terrible.
! How can we even prepare for earthquakes when they come out of nowhere?! 
My heart goes out to those who lost their lives or homes 
. It's a good thing some people had emergency kits ready #EarthquakePrep #StaySafe. Can't imagine being in the middle of it all, trying to escape a collapsing building 
... so grateful for those who responded quickly and helped others #RescueEffortsMatter. And on top of everything, communication networks are down? That's just devastating 
. Here's hoping everyone recovers soon and the community comes together to rebuild 
#HopeForMexico #SupportThePeople
Ugh my heart goes out to those families affected by this devastating earthquake...I can only imagine how scary it must be to have your home collapse and lose someone you love 
. I'm glad some people were prepared, but I'm so worried about all the others who were caught off guard 
I feel so bad for those who got affected by this earthquake 
at least some residents were smart enough to prep ahead of time tho 
it can be super scary when you can't reach loved ones in an emergency situation 
especially the families of those who lost loved ones this is a really tough time for them 
. The fact that the shaking was intense but less severe than previous earthquakes in the area is actually a bit reassuring, though - at least some residents were prepared and had emergency kits ready 
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. You have to wonder what other challenges the people of Guerrero are going to face in the coming days and weeks, both physically and emotionally 
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and homes 
it's like they're not doin enuf to prepare for these disasters or protect their citizens 
the gov'ts gotta step up their game 
and provide better emergency services 
especially in rural areas where ppl don't have access to basic resources 
, it's like a whole new normal for mexicans living in areas prone to earthquakes 
. Like, how many times can a country deal with these massive earthquakes? 6.5 magnitude is crazy 
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I hope everyone who got shaken up is okay 
having emergency kits & evacuation plans can make all the difference in a situation like this 
I hope the rescue efforts are going well 
And poor communication networks, that's just adding to the stress 
. I dont blame people for panicking, earthquakes are super scary! 
safety first, people! 
. It's heartbreaking to think about those who were trying to communicate with loved ones only to have their phones shut down 
... still, at least no direct reports of major infrastructure damage in Mexico City? Fingers crossed the rebuilding efforts can be more efficient than usual 
. We gotta keep an eye on this situation and make sure everyone affected gets the help they need 
. 6.5 magnitude is huge but did we have a seismograph reading from the epicenter? How accurate was the U.S. Geological Survey's estimate? And what's with all these aftershocks? How long will it take for the region to recover?