A 6.5-magnitude earthquake near Acapulco kills two, damages homes in San Marcos and sends Mexico City residents fleeing into the streets.
SAN MARCOS, Mexico: A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Mexico’s Pacific coast, killing at least two people and shaking buildings in the capital hundreds of kilometers away.
The quake hit southwest of San Marcos in Guerrero state shortly before 8:00 am, according to the US Geological Survey.
It was felt strongly around 400 kilometers north in Mexico City, where alarms sent residents rushing into the streets.
A 60-year-old man died after falling while evacuating his apartment in the capital, local authorities said.
City Mayor Clara Brugada reported 12 other injuries but no major damage in Mexico City.
President Claudia Sheinbaum was forced to evacuate the presidential palace during a press conference.
In San Marcos near the epicenter, a woman in her fifties died when her house collapsed, Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said.
San Marcos Mayor Misael Lorenzo Castillo reported around 50 houses destroyed, with all homes suffering cracks.
“San Marcos has been badly affected, devastated,” lamented resident Rogelio Moreno, standing before his damaged home.
The earthquake also rattled the major beach resort of Acapulco, where tourists fled their hotels.
Mexico City resident Karen Gomez, 47, said she “woke up in terror” to a street siren and a cellphone alert warning of a powerful quake.
The country sits between five tectonic plates, making it one of the world’s most seismically active zones.
Mexico City’s center is built on a former lake bed, amplifying its vulnerability to tremors.
The quake revived memories of past disasters, including a 1985 tremor that killed nearly 13,000 people in the capital.
Early warning systems, including smartphone apps and loudspeakers on lampposts, alerted citizens to seek safety.
