A powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake has rocked Mexico, as the tremors interrupted President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press briefing of the year.
The tremor shook the nation on Friday morning, with its epicentre believed to be around 15km southwest of San Marcos in the state of Guerrero, according to the country’s national seismological service.
The powerful quake reached the capital Mexico City, with footage on social media showing how residents frantically rushed out onto the streets after the shaking began.
President Sheinbaum’s morning briefing was interrupted as a result of the earthquake, with a video circulating on X showing how the Mexican leader and those attending the meeting were forced to evacuate as seismic alarms sounded.
Ten minutes after the alert sounded, Sheinbaum resumed the press conference.
‘It appears there is no serious damage, but we will wait for the report from Guerrero’, she told members of the press.
The Mexican leader added that she had made initial contact with the governor of Guerrero, where all protocols had already been activated, and that the extent of the earthquake is being reviewed.
People stand after leaving a building following an earthquake, Mexico City, Mexico, January 2, 2026
People wait on the street after evacuating following an earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico, January 2, 2026
The United States Geological Survey has recorded the earthquake’s epicentre as east of the coastal city of Acapulco, a popular beach destination.
So far, no serious damage has been reported.
This is a breaking news story, more to follow.
