At least two people were killed and several others injured after a strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck southern and central Mexico on Friday, authorities said.
The quake’s epicentre was located near San Marcos in the southwestern state of Guerrero, close to the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, according to preliminary seismic data.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado said a 50-year-old woman was confirmed dead in the state following the tremor. In Mexico City, Mayor Clara Brugada confirmed the death of a 60-year-old man and said at least 12 people were injured, mostly due to falls and panic during evacuations.
U.S. broadcaster CBS News reported that emergency services were deployed across affected areas as residents fled buildings when the shaking began in the early evening local time.
The earthquake was felt across a wide area, including the capital, where warning sirens were activated and buildings were briefly evacuated. There were no immediate reports of major structural damage.
Mexico sits on one of the world’s most seismically active zones, where the North American, Cocos and Pacific tectonic plates intersect. Guerrero, in particular, has been hit repeatedly by powerful earthquakes in recent decades.
Authorities said damage assessments were ongoing and urged residents to remain cautious amid the possibility of aftershocks.