Strong Earthquake Strikes Mexico During Press Conference

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s inaugural press conference of the new year took an unexpected turn on Friday when a powerful earthquake rocked southern and central Mexico, triggering earthquake alarms.

The quake registered a preliminary magnitude of 6.5, as reported by Mexico’s National Seismological Agency, with its epicenter located near San Marcos in the Guerrero state, close to the Pacific coastal resort town of Acapulco.

Local civil defense authorities noted that several landslides occurred in and around Acapulco, disrupting various highways in the region.

As the tremors started, both residents and tourists rushed into the streets of Mexico City and Acapulco in alarm.

The U.S. Geological Survey indicated the earthquake hit approximately 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo in Guerrero, situated in the mountains about 57 miles from Acapulco, at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers).

Shortly after, Sheinbaum resumed her press briefing, mentioning she had spoken with Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado, who reported no significant damage resulting from the quake.

Dr. José Raimundo Díaz Taboada, a human rights advocate living in one of Acapulco’s mountainous areas, shared that the dogs in his neighborhood began barking wildly following a loud rumble he heard.

“When the earthquake warning blared on my phone, the ground shook, and a loud noise filled the air,” he recounted, still visibly shaken.

He mentioned that this tremor felt less intense compared to past earthquakes, and he had packed a bag with essentials, just in case aftershocks were to follow.

However, he faced difficulties reaching some friends residing in Costa Chica, southeast of Acapulco, due to a loss of communication services.