M6.5 Earthquake 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico — January 2, 2026
2026-01-02 13:58:15 UTC (2026-01-02) · approx. 6:58 AM UTC-7 local
Felt by 528 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 7.0 (very strong).
On January 2, 2026 at 13:58 UTC, a magnitude 6.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico, at a depth of 18.0 km and coordinates 16.7980°, -99.3939°. The earthquake was reported felt by 528 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 7.0 (very strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a yellow alert level for this event, indicating local impact possible. This earthquake was detected by 122 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 1020, making it one of the most significant global earthquakes in recent days. The nearest populated place is San Marcos (population 12,278).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 18 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 7.0 (very strong), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Strong shaking felt by everyone. Heavy furniture may move. Books fall from shelves. Plaster and chimneys may crack. Damage is generally slight in well-built structures.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 528 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 630,931 |
| MMI 4 | light | 3,179,788 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 1,125,287 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 290,045 |
| MMI 7 | very strong | 94,248 |
Earthquake Details
-99.3939°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.5 earthquake near San Marcos, Mexico?
The magnitude 6.5 earthquake that struck 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico on January 2, 2026 at 13:58 UTC had a depth of 18.0 km. It was felt by 528 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 7.0 (very strong). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 16.7980°, -99.3939°, which is 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico. The nearest populated place is San Marcos (population 12,278). View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.5 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months and gradually diminish over time.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 6.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000rm3k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 2, 2026). M6.5 Earthquake 0 km W of San Marcos, Mexico — January 2, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rm3k/