Strong Earthquake Jolts Southern Mexico, Sends People Scrambling During President’s Press Conference

Jan 2 (Reuters) – A powerful earthquake shook southern Mexico on Friday, sending millions scrambling after the New Year holiday and briefly interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference.

The 6.5-magnitude quake struck near the Pacific coast in Guerrero state at a depth of 35 km (22 miles), the U.S. Geological Survey said. Guerrero is just south of Mexico City.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage in Guerrero, Sheinbaum and the state’s governor both said.

Sheinbaum was speaking in Mexico City when earthquake alarms sounded. She noted the ground was shaking beneath her before calmly evacuating alongside journalists. Sheinbaum resumed the press conference shortly afterward.

She said no damage had been reported in Mexico City, where residents fled their homes and sounds of nervous dogs barking filled the streets.

Guerrero is home to Acapulco and other resort areas, which are a major draw for holiday tourists. Acapulco is still recovering from a Category 5 hurricane that devastated the area in 2023.

(Reporting by Mexico City newsroom, Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Editing by Emily Green and Howard Goller)