A magnitude 6.5 earthquake shook buildings in Acapulco, Mexico, on Friday morning but caused no reported casualties or damage. Image Courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey
Jan. 3 (UPI) — A magnitude 6.5 earthquake was recorded at 7:58 a.m. local time near Rancho Viejo. Mexico on Friday morning and shook buildings in the resort city of Acapulco along the Pacific Coast.
The earthquake, which was linked to more than 500 aftershocks, occurred during Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press briefing of 2026, has caused at least two deaths, The Washington Post reported.
The earthquake’s epicenter was 2.5 miles north-northwest of Rancho Viejo and 21.75 miles beneath the Earth’s surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The USGS reported little to no landsliding was expected and little to no population exposure to landsliding hazards from the event.
Some liquefaction is estimated with limited exposure to local populations, but some ground failure might still occur, according to the USGS.
Rancho Viejo is about 6 miles east of Acapulco in southern central Mexico, and strong shaking was reported in both locales, with some movement also felt 235 miles to the north in Mexico City.
No tsunami warnings were issued, and none occurred, although aftershocks are anticipated and could occur days or possibly weeks afterward and be of a similar magnitude, according to The New York Times.
