Mexico's Chamber of Deputies conducts earthquake drill

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies conducted its first institutional earthquake drill on September 14, 2026, at the San Lázaro Legislative Palace. The exercise simulated a 7.4 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter in Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas.

A total of 5,151 people, including legislators, employees, and visitors, were evacuated from 11 buildings within the palace and three external sites, including the Tacuba Library and the San Lázaro Old Gate. The evacuation process was completed in approximately four minutes.

The drill concluded with no reported injuries or medical incidents. Following the evacuation, internal civil protection teams inspected the facilities to verify structural integrity and service continuity before authorizing a return to normal activities.

Reports noted a communication delay regarding the alert activation. While the drill was scheduled for 12:00, the alarm sounded several minutes later due to a communication failure between the General Directorate of Civil Protection and the Center for Instrumentation and Seismic Registration (Cires).