The German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) announced on Friday (January 2nd) that a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Guerrero state in Mexico.
According to GFZ’s monitoring data, this earthquake is classified as a very shallow-depth earthquake, with the epicenter only 10 kilometers deep (about 6.21 miles). Due to the shallow depth, the surrounding areas of the epicenter experienced strong shaking.
Reports from the Associated Press indicate that this strong earthquake rattled southern and central Mexico, even briefly interrupting President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first press conference of the new year with blaring alarms.
So far, Mexican officials have not received immediate reports of casualties or significant property damage.
Guerrero state, where the epicenter is located, felt significant shaking. Additionally, Mexico City and the neighboring states of Morelos and Oaxaca also experienced noticeable tremors.
The Mexico earthquake early warning system (SASMEX) issued alerts before the shock waves arrived, leading to the evacuation of some office buildings in Mexico City following disaster preparedness procedures.
Mexico City, built on ancient lake-bed sediment, has geological structures that amplify seismic waves, resulting in significant tremors even from distant earthquakes.
Guerrero state is situated on the boundary between the Cocos Plate and the North American Plate, known for being a seismic active zone. The Civil Protection department of Mexico is closely monitoring the situation and conducting safety assessments in the affected areas.
(This is a developing story, stay tuned for updates…)