By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 14:18 GMT, 2 January 2026 | Updated: 16:03 GMT, 2 January 2026

A powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake has rocked Mexico, as the tremors interrupted President Claudia Sheinbaum's first press briefing of the year. 

The tremor shook the nation on Friday morning at around 7.58am local time, with its epicentre believed to be around 15km southwest of San Marcos in the state of Guerrero, which is near to hotspot Acapulco, according to the country's national seismological service.

The event triggered a seismic alert in Mexico City, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate buildings. 

As the powerful quake reached the capital, footage on social media residents frantically rushing out onto the streets, while other clips captured buildings shaking and some debris falling to the ground. 

Images also showed locals waiting outside their apartment buildings and offices after they were told to evacuate out onto the streets.  

President Sheinbaum's morning briefing was dramatically interrupted as a result of the earthquake, with a video circulating on X showing how the Mexican leader and those attending the meeting were forced to leave the building as seismic alarms sounded.

Ten minutes after the alert sounded, Sheinbaum resumed the press conference. 

'It appears there is no serious damage, but we will wait for the report from Guerrero', she told members of the press.

People stand after leaving a building following an earthquake, Mexico City, Mexico, January 2, 2026

People wait on the street after evacuating following an earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico, January 2, 2026

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (C) reacts in a courtyard of the National Palace following an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico, 02 January 2026, which resulted in her first press briefing of the year being interrupted 

The Mexican leader added that she had made initial contact with the governor of Guerrero, Evelyn Salgado, who told her all protocols had already been activated, and that the extent of the earthquake was being reviewed. 

In Acacapulco, tourists were also seen rushing into the streets when the shaking begn. 

So far, no serious damage or casualties have been reported, but there are reports of power outages in some areas north of Mexico City.

Mexico's National Electricity Commission is reviewing potential damage to electrical installations.  

The earthquake in Mexico comes just two days after the US Geological Survey issued a ShakeAlert for California and Nevada after a 5.0 magnitude tremor struck. 

Residents reported feeling shaking across California, western Nevada , and southern Oregon, with many sharing their experiences on social media.

One person wrote on X: 'A 5.3-magnitude quake is a serious wake-up call for infrastructure resilience in NorCal. 

'While the ShakeAlert system is a lifesaver, we need to focus on long-term seismic safety and emergency preparedness.'

A woman wearing a bathrobe walks outside of a building, after an earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico, January 2, 2026

A resident carrying his dogs rushes into the street following an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico

Tourists wait on the roadside after hotels were evacuated following an earthquake in Acapulco, Mexico, January 2, 2026

Several Californians and Nevadans said the quake shook their homes.

The USGS detected at least six aftershocks, ranging from a 2.1 to 2.5 magnitude, since the larger one hit.

No damage or injuries were reported, according to the Susanville Police Department.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow.