Mexico’s new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, kept her composure Friday morning when a powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake rattled the nation — cutting short her first press conference of the year.
The quake struck just after 9 a.m. local time, sending Mexico’s earthquake alarm blaring across the capital and prompting people to flee buildings and gather in the streets.
“She remained calm and immediately followed safety protocol,” a local broadcaster reported, noting that Sheinbaum briefly paused her remarks as the room began to shake.
According to Mexico’s National Seismological Service, the epicenter was located near San Marcos in the state of Guerrero, not far from the resort city of Acapulco — a region known for frequent seismic activity.
Videos posted on social media showed office towers swaying in Mexico City and parked cars vibrating in Acapulco. One clip captured gasps from journalists as cameras wobbled inside the presidential briefing room.
The country’s early warning system, known as SASMEX, gave residents a crucial minute of notice before the tremor hit. That network was created after the catastrophic 1985 Mexico City earthquake that killed more than 5,000 people and reshaped the nation’s disaster response system.
While no major injuries or significant structural damage were reported, the quake served as a tense reminder of Mexico’s vulnerability to seismic disasters.
“The alert saved lives again,” one resident told local television. “You never forget the sound — it means you have seconds to act.”
Sheinbaum later assured citizens that emergency crews were standing by and that no widespread damage had been detected. “We will continue to monitor and ensure everyone’s safety,” she said from Mexico City’s government palace.
Discover more from Next Gen News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.