Magnitude 6.5 earthquake shakes Southern and Central Mexico, triggering landslides

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 struck southern and central Mexico on January 2, 2026, with its epicentre located near San Marcos in the state of Guerrero, northeast of Acapulco. The event was felt widely across the region, including Mexico City, and activated the national seismic alert system.

The earthquake highlighted the sensitivity of the Guerrero region to coseismal slope instability. Civil defence authorities reported multiple landslides along highways and mountainous corridors near Acapulco, where steep terrain, weathered rock masses and residual soil cover dominate.

The earthquake occurred at an estimated depth of approximately 35 km, generating strong ground motions capable of inducing shallow failures in colluvial slopes and cuttings. Reports of disrupted communications along the Costa Chica further indicate localized ground deformation and infrastructure vulnerability.

While early official statements indicated limited structural damage, subsequent assessments confirmed casualties near the epicentral area and evacuation of damaged facilities, including a hospital in Guerrero. More than 500 aftershocks were recorded, prolonging the period of instability and increasing the likelihood of progressive slope failure.