At least two people have died in Mexico as a result of a 6.5 magnitude earthquake. The country's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, interrupted her press conference in the capital, DW reports.
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck Mexico on Friday, January 2, with its epicenter located near the village of San Marcos in the state of Guerrero. The tremors were felt in the center and southern parts of the country. As a result, at least two people died.
One of the deceased was a 60-year-old man who felt unwell and fell during the evacuation from his apartment. A 50-year-old woman living near the earthquake's epicenter was killed under the rubble of her own home. Additionally, a hospital building in the capital of Guerrero, Chilpancingo, was damaged, and some patients were evacuated from there.
The earthquake also affected the capital of the country, Mexico City, which is located 400 km from the epicenter. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum was forced to interrupt her press conference and evacuate from the presidential palace. However, the press conference resumed shortly thereafter.
Why Earthquakes Frequently Occur in Mexico
Mexico is located on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, where several tectonic plates converge, leading to frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Mexico City was built on loose ground at the site of a dried-up lake, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes.
The most destructive earthquake in Mexico's history, with a magnitude of 8.1, occurred on September 19, 1985, resulting in approximately 10,000 deaths. Exactly 32 years later, on September 19, 2017, the country experienced strong tremors again, with the death toll exceeding 300.
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