It had a moment magnitude of 6.7 Mw  and an epicenter in the Acambay grabenc, 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Mexico City.

The earthquake occurred along three fault zones that bound the Acambay graben, an extensional tectonic feature located within the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

The largest vertical displacement, 50 cm (20 in), occurred near Tixmadejé village, about midpoint along the rupture between Acambay and San José Solís.

East of the reservoir, a northwest–southeast trending rupture, likely an extension of the Acambay–Tixmadejé Fault, stretched 2 km (1.2 mi) with vertical displacements of 12–20 cm (4.7–7.9 in).

On the Pastores Fault, a 17 km (11 mi) rupture trending east–west occurred between Santiago Coachochitlán and Mayé el Fresno.

Within the graben, three parallel ruptures were recorded near Temascalcingo, corresponding to the intragraben fault zone, with the longest extending 20 km (12 mi).

[8] Citing the Mexican interior secretariat, Meriden Daily Journal reported on 22 November that over 1,200 people were killed.

[14] In response to this rebel presence, the Mexican government said they would deploy soldiers to defend the area and allow outside assistance to enter.

[16][1] Cracks appeared in the walls of the National Palace while some poorly-constructed homes collapsed, and on the streets, water pipes ruptured and roads buckled.