A moment magnitude Mw 7.0 or 7.1 earthquake occurred near the city of Acapulco in the Mexican state of Guerrero at 20:47 local time on 7 September with an estimated intensity of VIII (Severe) on the MMI scale.

Many seismologists in Mexico were on alert after the event because it occurred in a region where no major earthquake have struck for over 110 years, therefore was designated as a seismic gap.

[11][12] According to the Guerrero Civil Protection Secretariat,[11] 3,289 structures including at least 2,006 homes, 35 schools, 13 hospitals, six places of worship, and 13 hotels were damaged in Acapulco.

[13][14] In the city, located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from the epicenter, buildings swayed and there were reports of power outages and many gas leaks.

[21] Minor damage was discovered in terminal buildings at Acapulco International Airport, prompting the suspension of operations until 11:30 local time the following day.

[13] More than 200 units at an apartment building in Diamante, Acapulco were abandoned by residents due to the extent of damage and fears that it was unsafe for occupancy.

[25] Rural settlements including Xaltianguis, Xolapa, Las Tortolitas, El Playón, La Sierrita, San José, Pablo Galeana, Las Marías, Agua Zarca and La Calera were affected by the quake, all reporting damage to homes and injuries.

[27] The earthquake knocked over the large, 50-year-old Enterolobium cyclocarpum tree on José María Iglesias street, an iconic tourist attraction in the Acapulco.

[32] Power flashes and blackouts were reported in the Mexico City area, causing panic and residents to evacuate from their homes.

[34] In Mexico City, passengers on Cablebús gondola lifts were trapped on board for about an hour, as the system ceased operations during the earthquake.

[35] According to Héctor Astudillo, the governor of Guerrero, one person was killed in the town of Luces en el Mar in the Coyuca de Benítez municipality in a motorcycle accident and collision with a utility pole.

[41] In Orizaba, Veracruz, three people suffered nervous breakdowns when they were trapped in an elevator in the Regional General Hospital.

[42] Two days after the earthquake, on September 9, a man was killed in a vehicle collision on the Acapulco-Pinotepa federal highway near Acapulco,[43] affected by the quake.

[45] On September 10, at 13:30 local time, a landslide occurred on the Cerro del Chiquihuite hill in Eastern Tlalnepantla de Baz, State of Mexico, killing two people and causing one injury.

According to the governor of the State of Mexico, Alfredo del Mazo Maza, heavy rainfall in the city, as well as the earthquake, weakened soil conditions on the hill, triggering the landslide.