WASHINGTON

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico on Friday, according to the US Geological Survey, killing at least one person.

The quake hit near the Pacific coast in Guerrero state at a depth of about 35 kilometers (22 miles) at 8.58 am local time (1458GMT).

The strong tremor cut short President Claudia Sheinbaum’s first news conference of the year as seismic alarms sounded.

Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado Pineda said a woman, 50, died in the southwestern state of Guerrero when her home collapsed due to the tremors, according to local media.

Citing the Secretariat of Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection of Guerrero, Pineda said the aftershocks will continue, and so far, more than 280 have been recorded.

"I call on everyone to remain calm, to seek information only from official channels," she wrote on US social media company X.

Local media have reported power outages in several parts of the capital Mexico City, while police helicopters have been patrolling the metropolis' downtown area.

The earthquake was also felt in the regions of Tres Valles, Cordoba, Los Tuxtlas, Xalapa, Orizal, Huatusco, and Coatzacoalcos.