Over 1,000 Buildings in Cancún to Join National Earthquake Drill

Cancún, Quintana Roo — More than 1,000 buildings in Cancún are registered to take part in Mexico’s second National Civil Protection Drill, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 1 p.m. Quintana Roo time.

The exercise will simulate a magnitude 7.0 earthquake with an epicenter 110 kilometers northeast of Cabo Catoche, near Isla Contoy. Antonio de Jesús Riveroll Ribbon, the municipal civil protection director, said the registry includes commercial establishments, hotels, supermarkets, offices and institutions. He stressed that the count refers to buildings, not participants, since a single site can bring together hundreds of people.

Riveroll Ribbon said a large retail store could gather up to 350 people during the drill, while hotels and supermarkets expect participation from employees as well as guests and customers. Local authorities hope to exceed participation from the previous drill and use the exercise to reinforce emergency prevention and response protocols.

This will be the first time Quintana Roo joins the national drill under an earthquake scenario. Although earthquakes are not among the state’s main natural hazards, officials say the region should still be ready to respond to any emergency.

The drill will test coordination among federal, state and municipal authorities, along with businesses, institutions and residents, to identify weaknesses and improve evacuation and emergency response procedures. In Benito Juárez, the municipality that includes Cancún, registration remains open for individuals, public institutions and private companies until Sept. 18 at 11:59 p.m.