Mexico quake kills 226

Rescuers yesterday frantically searched for survivors of a powerful earthquake that killed 226 people in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake that left thousands dead and still haunts the country, report agencies.

Mexico's civil defense agency says the death toll has risen to 226 from Tuesday's magnitude 7.1 earthquake that knocked down dozens of buildings in Mexico City and nearby states, says AP.

The official Twitter feed of agency head Luis Felipe Puente said early Wednesday that 117 people were confirmed dead in Mexico City, and 55 died in Morelos state, which is just south of the capital. It said 39 are dead in Puebla state, where the quake was centered.

The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 quake was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City.

At daybreak, firefighters, police, soldiers and volunteers were still swarming over the ruins of some 40 buildings that collapsed in the capital. "We are continuing to search for people," Mexico City mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told Televisa TV. At least 40 people have been found alive in two of the collapsed buildings.

The structures of some 600 other buildings whose walls swayed and cracked were being inspected. The most agonizing search was at a school in the capital where 21 children -- aged between seven and 13 -- and five adults were crushed to death. At least 30 children were still missing.

"No one can possibly imagine the pain I'm in right now," said one mother, Adriana Fargo, who was standing outside what remained of the school waiting for news of her seven-year-old daughter. The nation's attention was fixed on the school, the Enrique Rebsamen elementary and middle school on Mexico City's south side.

The woman's husband was among hundreds of soldiers, police and volunteers who wrestled with the wreckage through the night, trying to extract a teacher and two students found alive beneath the rubble. One rescuer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP there were signs of life in the rubble below. "It seems that some 20 children are safe with a teacher inside a classroom," the rescuer said as he clambered down from the mountain of bricks, concrete and twisted metal.

There also appeared to be nine lifeless bodies in the debris, he said. Suspicion was already mounting of shoddy building standards at the school. The three-story building "ought to have had in-built earthquake resilience," said geoscience professor David Rothery of the Open University in Britain.

"Had it been properly constructed it should not have collapsed, and I expect questions will be asked about whether the appropriate building codes were adhered to." Many residents spent the night in parks and plazas, in tents or makeshift shelters, unable or unwilling to return to their homes as authorities reported 22 aftershocks and urged the utmost public caution.

"If you don't feel safe, you are advised not to stay in your home," warned Carlos Valdes, head of the national disaster center.

Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray thanked the international community for offers of help in an unusual special intervention at the UN General Assembly.

"We have identified which countries have the teams and equipment that we need right now to support rescue efforts."

Israel said it was sending a team of 70 soldiers including engineers and search and rescue specialists which would arrive Friday.

The destruction revived haunting memories in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake in 1985 that killed more than 10,000 people, the disaster-prone country's deadliest ever.

Tuesday's quake struck just two hours after Mexico held a national earthquake drill, as it does every September 19 to remember the 1985 event. Adding to the national sense of vulnerability, the earthquake struck just 12 days after another quake that killed nearly 100 people in southern Mexico.

Experts said the two quakes did not appear to be related, as their epicenters were far apart. Mexico sits atop five tectonic plates, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes.

The death toll as of mid-morning Wednesday was 225, the head of the national disaster response agency, Luis Felipe Puente, wrote on Twitter. There were 94 dead in Mexico City, 71 in Morelos, 43 in Puebla, 12 in Mexico state, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca, he said.

Rescue workers reported that families were getting WhatsApp messages pleading for help from desperate relatives trapped under debris. Patients were evacuated from the capital's hospitals, wheeled out on beds and wheelchairs.

 

 

Mexico quake kills 226

Rescuers yesterday frantically searched for survivors of a powerful earthquake that killed 226 people in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake that left thousands dead and still haunts the country, report agencies. Mexicos civil defense agency says the death toll has risen to 226 from Tuesdays magnitude 7.1 earthquake that knocked down dozens of buildings in Mexico City and nearby states, says AP. The official Twitter feed of agency head Luis Felipe Puente said early Wednesday that 117 people were confirmed dead in Mexico City, and 55 died in Morelos state, which is just south of the capital. It said 39 are dead in Puebla state, where the quake was centered. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 7.1 quake was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City. At daybreak, firefighters, police, soldiers and volunteers were still swarming over the ruins of some 40 buildings that collapsed in the capital. We are continuing to search for people, Mexico City mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told Televisa TV. At least 40 people have been found alive in two of the collapsed buildings. The structures of some 600 other buildings whose walls swayed and cracked were being inspected. The most agonizing search was at a school in the capital where 21 children -- aged between seven and 13 -- and five adults were crushed to death. At least 30 children were still missing. No one can possibly imagine the pain Im in right now, said one mother, Adriana Fargo, who was standing outside what remained of the school waiting for news of her seven-year-old daughter. The nations attention was fixed on the school, the Enrique Rebsamen elementary and middle school on Mexico Citys south side. The womans husband was among hundreds of soldiers, police and volunteers who wrestled with the wreckage through the night, trying to extract a teacher and two students found alive beneath the rubble. One rescuer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP there were signs of life in the rubble below. It seems that some 20 children are safe with a teacher inside a classroom, the rescuer said as he clambered down from the mountain of bricks, concrete and twisted metal. There also appeared to be nine lifeless bodies in the debris, he said. Suspicion was already mounting of shoddy building standards at the school. The three-story building ought to have had in-built earthquake resilience, said geoscience professor David Rothery of the Open University in Britain. Had it been properly constructed it should not have collapsed, and I expect questions will be asked about whether the appropriate building codes were adhered to. Many residents spent the night in parks and plazas, in tents or makeshift shelters, unable or unwilling to return to their homes as authorities reported 22 aftershocks and urged the utmost public caution. If you dont feel safe, you are advised not to stay in your home, warned Carlos Valdes, head of the national disaster center. Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray thanked the international community for offers of help in an unusual special intervention at the UN General Assembly. We have identified which countries have the teams and equipment that we need right now to support rescue efforts. Israel said it was sending a team of 70 soldiers including engineers and search and rescue specialists which would arrive Friday. The destruction revived haunting memories in Mexico on the anniversary of another massive quake in 1985 that killed more than 10,000 people, the disaster-prone countrys deadliest ever. Tuesdays quake struck just two hours after Mexico held a national earthquake drill, as it does every September 19 to remember the 1985 event. Adding to the national sense of vulnerability, the earthquake struck just 12 days after another quake that killed nearly 100 people in southern Mexico. Experts said the two quakes did not appear to be related, as their epicenters were far apart. Mexico sits atop five tectonic plates, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. The death toll as of mid-morning Wednesday was 225, the head of the national disaster response agency, Luis Felipe Puente, wrote on Twitter. There were 94 dead in Mexico City, 71 in Morelos, 43 in Puebla, 12 in Mexico state, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca, he said. Rescue workers reported that families were getting WhatsApp messages pleading for help from desperate relatives trapped under debris. Patients were evacuated from the capitals hospitals, wheeled out on beds and wheelchairs.