Earthquake.now

M6.5 Earthquake near Rancho Viejo, Mexico — 02 January 2026

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 was recorded near Rancho Viejo, Mexico on , with an epicentre 4 km north-northwest of Rancho Viejo, at a focal depth of 35.0 km. It was the strongest of the 33 earthquakes recorded in Mexico in the preceding 30 days.

6.5 Strong

Time (UTC): 2026-01-02 13:58:18

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 6.5 (strong)

Focal depth: 35.0 km (shallow)

Epicentre: 16.9017, -99.3026

Location: 4 km NNW of Rancho Viejo, Mexico

Country: Mexico

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 884, which meets the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 07:21 local solar time at the epicentre, around dawn.

This event was deeper than 84% of the 1,035 earthquakes recorded in Mexico in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 16.9017, -99.3026 — 4 km north-northwest of Rancho Viejo. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake 3 km north-northeast of here on 02 January 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Huamuchapa (3 km north-northeast), Las Vigas (12 km south-southeast), San Marcos (17 km south-southwest) and Barrio Nuevo de los Muertos (20 km west-southwest).

Why the 35 km depth matters

At 35 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.

This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

What does the tsunami information flag mean?

The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.

How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →

Aftershocks and local seismic history

4 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 4.5.

38 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.7 event near Zocoteaca de León on 04 May 2026. This M6.5 event released about 16 times more energy than that event.

2 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 0 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the January 2026 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in Mexico during January 2026. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in Mexico

All recorded earthquakes in Mexico →

Other magnitude 6 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 6 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Rancho Viejo?

It measured magnitude 6.5 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Rancho Viejo?

The focus was 35 km below the surface, which counts as shallow.

Was the Rancho Viejo earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 6.5 and a focal depth of 35 km, shaking would have been concentrated near the epicentre.

When did the earthquake near Rancho Viejo happen?

02 January 2026 at 13:58 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

4 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 4.5.

How often do earthquakes happen near Rancho Viejo?

38 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 5.7 event near Zocoteaca de León on 04 May 2026. This M6.5 event released about 16 times more energy than that event.