A moderate 4.9 earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday, shaking parts of Guerrero state and being felt lightly in Mexico City. Authorities said no damage had been reported.
The quake, which struck near San Marcos, prompted swift official updates and reassurances as monitoring agencies assessed its magnitude and depth.
Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) said the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometres, a relatively shallow level that can allow shaking to be felt over a wider area, even when the magnitude is moderate.
The epicentre was located near San Marcos, a coastal municipality in Guerrero.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said no damage had been reported following the tremor. In a post on X, she said the earthquake measured a magnitude of 5.2 and confirmed that authorities were monitoring the situation.
“No damages were reported so far,” she said, referring to the quake centred in San Marcos, Guerrero.
Residents in parts of Guerrero reported brief shaking, while in Mexico City the tremor was felt slightly but was not intense. There were no immediate reports of injuries, evacuations or disruptions to essential services.
Mexico sits on one of the world’s most seismically active regions, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate along the Pacific coast.
Guerrero, in particular, is known for frequent seismic activity and has been the epicentre of several major earthquakes in the past.
Friday’s tremor, while relatively modest, highlighted the country’s constant exposure to seismic events and the importance of early detection and public communication.
Differences in reported magnitude, such as those between GFZ’s 4.9 reading and the president’s reference to 5.2, are not uncommon in the immediate aftermath of earthquakes, as agencies use different methodologies and data sources.
The depth of the quake, estimated at 10 kilometres, suggests it originated within the shallow crust, a factor that can increase the likelihood of people feeling the shaking even when damage is unlikely.
Experts often note that depth, proximity to populated areas and local geology can influence how an earthquake is experienced on the ground.
In Mexico City, which lies more than 300 kilometres from Guerrero, residents described mild movement but no alarm.
The capital is particularly sensitive to seismic waves due to its location on an ancient lakebed, which can amplify shaking from distant earthquakes. However, in this case, the tremor was not strong enough to trigger widespread concern.
The lack of reported damage also reflects improvements in building standards and disaster preparedness following devastating earthquakes in recent decades.
Authorities routinely urge residents to remain calm during moderate tremors and to follow official guidance if aftershocks occur.
Guerrero state officials did not issue evacuation orders, and there were no reports of landslides, power outages or damage to roads and infrastructure in the immediate aftermath.
Mexico’s national monitoring systems continue to track seismic activity across the country, and officials said they would provide updates if conditions changed.
For now, the earthquake serves as a reminder of Mexico’s seismic reality, but also of the country’s capacity to respond quickly and reassure the public when moderate tremors strike without causing harm.
