Mexico City: At least two people have died, and 12 others were injured after a powerful 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Mexico, causing moderate damage and triggering widespread emergency inspections.
The epicentre of the quake was located near San Marcos, close to the popular tourist destination of Acapulco in the southwestern state of Guerrero. Authorities said the state suffered moderate structural damage, along with landslides on several highways.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado confirmed that a 50-year-old woman died in the state, while Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada reported the death of a 60-year-old man in the capital. Brugada added that 12 people were injured and that power had been restored to 98 percent of reported outages.
Officials in Mexico City said two structures were being evaluated for potential collapse. As a precautionary measure, inspections were ordered for 34 buildings and five homes. Roads and hospitals in the capital were also affected, according to reports, as authorities carried out damage assessments.
Mexico’s seismological service recorded at least 420 aftershocks by midday local time, highlighting continued seismic activity following the initial quake. After the Mexican Seismic Alert System sounded, residents and tourists rushed into the streets in Mexico City and Acapulco. The alert system was introduced after the devastating 1985 earthquake that killed more than 10,000 people.
President Claudia Sheinbaum was holding her first press conference of the year when the earthquake struck. In video footage, she is heard saying ‘it’s shaking’ as the alert rang out, before calmly instructing those present to evacuate. Additional videos showed buildings swaying in Mexico City and vehicles trembling in Acapulco.
Mexico is among the world’s most seismically active countries. In 2017, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed more than 200 people and destroyed dozens of buildings in the capital. Earlier, Mayor Brugada urged residents to remain calm and keep a ‘Life Backpack’ ready, an emergency kit recommended by Mexico’s National Disaster Prevention Centre.
The kit typically includes a flashlight, radio, water, non-perishable food, warm clothing and copies of important documents to help residents survive the first hours after a disaster.
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