6.5 Magnitude Earthquake Puts Mexico on Alert and Activates Emergency Protocols: Claudia Sheinbaum Breaks Her Silence

6.5 earthquake in Mexico

Authorities activate emergency protocols

President speaks out

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake woke millions of people across central and southern Mexico early Friday morning after striking at 7:58 a.m. local time.

According to EFE, the quake’s epicenter was located off the coast of the state of Guerrero in the Pacific Ocean and was classified as “severe” by the Servicio Sismológico Nacional.

Although the tremor was strongly felt in several regions of the country, no casualties or significant material damage had been reported in the hours immediately following the event.

Federal and state authorities promptly activated monitoring and emergency response protocols to assess potential impacts in the affected areas.

Seismic Alert and Reaction at the National Palace

6.5 earthquake in Mexico – Photo: Shutterstock

In Mexico City, the seismic alert sounded moments before the shaking was felt, allowing residents to take preventive measures.

During her morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum interrupted her remarks upon hearing the alert and called for calm among those present. “It’s shaking,” she said as safety protocols were initiated.

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She emphasized the importance of remaining calm and acting in an orderly manner. “With calm,” she repeated as staff followed established procedures.

Later, Sheinbaum reported that she had spoken with Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado and noted that “the Civil Protection Council is being convened, and so far it appears there is no serious damage” after the earthquake.

BREAKING This is how President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Mañanera del Pueblo press conference was suspended due to the EARTHQUAKE.
pic.twitter.com/YwNI8g5KYx

— El Heraldo de México (@heraldodemexico) January 2, 2026

National Monitoring and State Reports

The National Seismological Service continued issuing notices about possible aftershocks minutes after the main quake, although its platform experienced intermittent outages due to high demand.

In Veracruz, Governor Rocío Nahle reported that the earthquake was strongly felt in several regions and that Civil Protection teams began inspection tours.

Authorities indicated that the tremor was noticeable in areas such as Xalapa, Orizaba, Córdoba, Coatzacoalcos, and Los Tuxtlas.

“At this time, no damage to strategic infrastructure has been reported, and task forces continue coordinated inspection efforts,” the state Civil Protection agency said.

Preliminary: EARTHQUAKE Magnitude 6.5, located 15 km southwest of San Marcos, Guerrero, 01/02/26 at 07:58:15.
Latitude 16.70, Longitude -99.49, Depth 10 km. pic.twitter.com/NsZ1ffheAn

— Sismológico Nacional (@SSNMexico) January 2, 2026

Guerrero, the Epicenter of the Earthquake

6.5 magnitude earthquake triggers alert in Mexico – Photo: Shutterstock

In Guerrero, local authorities immediately activated emergency and prevention protocols through the State Secretariat for Integrated Risk Management and Civil Protection.

The state government reported maintaining constant communication with municipalities to assess damage to homes, services, and infrastructure.

In Acapulco, one of the areas where the quake was felt most intensely, temporary power outages and disruptions to phone service were reported.

So far, preliminary reports do not indicate serious structural damage, although assessments continue in several coastal communities, EFE reported.

Key Recommendations During Earthquakes

Authorities reiterated the importance of staying calm during an earthquake and following the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” rule to reduce risk.

Indoors, people are advised to protect their head and neck, stay away from windows, and avoid using elevators during evacuation.

In public spaces, it is safest to move to open areas away from poles, buildings, and power lines, without running uncontrollably.

After the quake, officials urge the public to follow official instructions, avoid re-entering damaged buildings, and use phones only for emergencies as national monitoring continues following the 6.5 earthquake in Mexico.