6.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Southern Mexico, Causing Fatalities and Damage

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on January 2, 2026, with its epicenter near San Marcos in Guerrero state, close to the Pacific resort city of Acapulco. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake occurred at a depth of 21.7 miles (35 kilometers), approximately 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo.

The tremor resulted in at least two fatalities. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado reported that a 50-year-old woman died when her home collapsed near the epicenter. In Mexico City, Mayor Clara Brugada stated that a person died after experiencing a medical emergency and falling while evacuating a building.

Structural damage was reported in Guerrero, including landslides around Acapulco and on other highways. A hospital in Chilpancingo, the state capital, suffered major structural damage, leading to the evacuation of patients.

Residents and tourists in Mexico City and Acapulco evacuated buildings as seismic alarms sounded. President Claudia Sheinbaum's press briefing was interrupted by the quake but resumed shortly after.

José Raymundo Díaz Taboada, a doctor residing near Acapulco, described hearing a strong rumble and neighborhood dogs barking before the seismic alert activated on his cellphone, followed by significant shaking.