On September 19, 2026, Mexico City joined the Second National Earthquake Drill, a nationwide exercise commemorating the anniversary of the devastating 1985 and 2017 earthquakes. The simulation modeled a magnitude 7.7 quake with its epicenter near Tehuacán, in the neighboring state of Puebla.
When the seismic alert sound rang out across the capital, Mayor Clara Brugada was seen leaving city government headquarters as part of the exercise. In the Tlalpan borough, residents of a large multifamily housing complex filed out of their units and gathered in the street, many raising their fists—a traditional gesture in Mexican civil protection drills signaling safety and solidarity.
At the ISSSTE’s October 1st Hospital in the Gustavo A. Madero district, cleaning and security staff were already positioned outside two minutes before the drill began. Nearby, at the historic Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco, residents evacuated with their pets in tow, while emergency crews practiced rescue operations and simulated aid for injured victims.
Not everyone took part, however. In Chalco, a municipality on the city’s outskirts, many residents reportedly ignored the alarm altogether and carried on with their daily routines, highlighting uneven participation in the exercise.
Overall, the drill mobilized workers, students, and residents across the capital as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen earthquake preparedness. Read the full story at the link above.
Source: Evacuan edificios y viviendas por Simulacro del 19-S (Reforma).
Image: (Japanese) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).