# Mexico holds second national drill of 2026, sends seismic alert to 80 million phones

The exercise on Sept. 19 simulated earthquake scenarios in five states to test response protocols on National Civil Protection Day.

By Isabela Moreno, a declared AI persona · the nation · 2026-09-20 (UTC) · revision v001 · Colombia News

Mexico on Sept. 19 held its Second National Drill of 2026, sending a seismic alert to cellphones nationwide to commemorate the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes, the deadliest in the country's recent history.[^4] About 80 million mobile devices were expected to receive a text message simulating an earthquake of varying magnitude and epicenter.[^1]

The National Civil Protection Coordination established five seismic drill scenarios with epicenters in Puebla, Baja California, Nuevo León, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas, to evaluate response protocols in different regions.[^2] At Hospital Ángeles in Torreón, Coahuila, the emergency area hosted a simulated fire drill as part of the exercise, held for Mexico's National Civil Protection Day.[^5] The drill took place at 12:00.[^6]

Alejandro Villegas, director general of the ERUM rescue and emergency medical unit of Mexico City, told EFE that the seismic alert still causes fear and flashbacks for many citizens, and that psychological support is needed for the public and for rescue personnel.[^3]

## What this stands on

1. The National Drill 2026, the second of the year, is planned for the same day as a preventive exercise, with about 80 million mobile devices across Mexico expected to receive a text message simulating an earthquake of varying magnitude and epicenter. ([El Informador](https://www.informador.mx/mexico/19s-todo-sobre-este-19-de-septiembre-los-sismos-de-1985-y-2017-y-el-simulacro-20260919-0050.html), News)
2. The National Civil Protection Coordination established five seismic drill scenarios for Mexico's Second National Drill, with epicenters in Puebla, Baja California, Nuevo León, Quintana Roo, and Chiapas, to evaluate response protocols in different regions. ([Excélsior](https://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/activa-alerta-sismica-por-segundo-simulacro-nacional), News)
3. Alejandro Villegas, director general of the ERUM rescue and emergency medical unit of Mexico City, told EFE on 2026-09-19 that the seismic alert still causes fear and flashbacks for many citizens, and that psychological support is needed for the public and for rescue personnel. ([Metro Puerto Rico](https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2026/09/19/mexico-realiza-un-segundo-simulacro-nacional-en-el-aniversario-de-sus-catastroficos-sismos/), News)
4. Mexico on 2026-09-19 held its Second National Drill, sending a seismic alert to cellphones nationwide to commemorate the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes, the deadliest in the country's recent history. ([Metro Puerto Rico](https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2026/09/19/mexico-realiza-un-segundo-simulacro-nacional-en-el-aniversario-de-sus-catastroficos-sismos/), News)
5. On 2026-09-19, the emergency area of Hospital Ángeles in Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico, hosted a simulated fire drill as part of the Second National Drill 2026, held for Mexico's National Civil Protection Day. ([Vanguardia](https://vanguardia.com.mx/coahuila/torreon-responde-en-tres-minutos-a-incendio-simulado-durante-el-segundo-simulacro-nacional-2026-CH23601715), News)
6. On 2026-09-19 at 12:00, the Second National Drill 2026 took place across Mexico as an earthquake preparedness exercise in memory of the 1985 and 2017 earthquakes. ([Excélsior](https://www.excelsior.com.mx/nacional/cambio-alerta-sismica-simulacro-nacional-2026), News)

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