Devastating earthquake strikes Mexico
September 27, 2017
On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Puebla state, 75 miles from Mexico City, was hit by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, leaving extreme damage in its wake.
Third Most Powerful Earthquake in Mexico’s History
It is documented on History.com as the third most powerful earthquake in Mexico’s history. The most powerful earthquake happened in 1985. With a magnitude of 8.1, the earthquake began in Michoacán going towards Mexico City. It had a death toll of 10,000, leaving over 30,000 people injured and over a quarter million people homeless.
Two weeks prior to this incident, on Sept. 8, 2017, Juchitán De Zaragoza, Mexico was hit by another earthquake. As reported in by the New York Times, this was considered to be the strongest earthquake of the century with a magnitude of 8.2, taking the lives of 90 people.
The earthquake caused private school Enrique Rebsamen Esquela to collapse during session and trapped many children and teachers inside. The incident claimed the lives of 22 children and four adults. There is an ongoing rescue team trying to recover the other missing children and adults.
President Enrique Peña Nieto visited the location of the school and released a statement to CNN describing the deadly earthquake that struck as a “painful ordeal” for the country, confirming that children were among the numbers killed.
It struck the Santiago Apostle Catholic Church, disrupting a young little girl’s baptism, killing 11 people, including the newly baptized little girl.
POTUS Offers Condolences, Assistance
Recently, President Donald Trump called President Peña Nieto to send his condolences to Mexico. Trump has pledged to provide assistance and search-and-rescue teams, which are currently being deployed to Mexico.
The current death toll of Mexico City is 230 and over 1,000 buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
The Governor of Mexico Luis Felipe Puente has reported that 52 survivors were rescued from the rubble thanks to a Marine service dog named “Frida”. President Peña Nieto sent an order so the patients from the closest hospitals to be evacuated and be sent to a different hospital to prepare for the worst. Peña Nieto has also declared that the next three days to national mourning to honor the victims that were lost due to the earthquake. There is still an ongoing search rescue at “La Condesa neighborhood” where the terrible earthquake destroyed the seven-story block.
September 22 Update
The death toll has been raised up from 230 to 273. An update from the Enrique Rebsamen Esquela it has been added that 25 children and still only four adults has passed away. People and rescue teams are still trying to save the children that are trapped under the collapsed school.
September 24 Update
The death toll rises up to 305 people who lost their lives. The reports being made of where search rescuers struggle to find a missing girl by the name of “Frida Sofia” never existed. Teachers who were saved from the destruction of the falling school said that there was no girl that went by that name. During the earthquake in Mexico City in 1985, there was a 9 year old boy that went by the name of “Monchito”. Everyone rushed to save him from a collapsed building, but just like Frida, he didn’t exist. People say that Frida and Monchito were considered as guardian angels who gave signs to find them, but instead to find other people that were under the destruction.
Disaster Relief Efforts Reach Celebrity Status
Salma Hayek, Jennifer Lopez, Shawn Mendes, Celine Dion, J.K. Rowling, Mark Zuckerberg, Apple, Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian West, and Sia have all donated to help out the victims of Mexico’s Earthquake
Those who are outside of Mexico can send donations in order to help out the victims of the earthquake. Look down below and that is where you can donate to this group of people that work on digging people out of fallen buildings:
“Los Topos” (The Moles) Rescue Brigade: Santander 92000709294 CLABE (PIN) 014180920007092942 Paypal: [email protected]