Search and rescue parties continue to make their way through rubble and debris in Mexico’s town of Puebla today, in the hopes of locating survivors more than 24 hours after a 7.1 magnitude quake struck.
The strong tremor centering 123km outside of Mexico City brought down more than 40 buildings, including one private school where 21 children and four adults were killed.
These victims along with others located across the destination bring the death toll up to around 230, according to The Guardian.
Mexico City’s Mayor told media that search parties pulled out 52 survivors from collapsed buildings, including 24 who were found almost a day after the initial quake.
#Mexico #quake death toll climbs to 230, at least 100 killed in #MexicoCity https://t.co/b3vTmclTnh pic.twitter.com/4EvefbFb4G
— RT (@RT_com) September 21, 2017
Airlines have responded to the second severe earthquake to shake Mexico this month by agreeing to wave any fees for guests reconsidering their booked travel plans to the city.
Among the airlines is Mexico’s national airline, Aeromexico, which has agreed to waive fees for changes made to flights booked before 21 September 2017 and scheduled to depart before 31 October 2017. Click here for the airline’s full policy.
United has also issued a similar waiver for flights scheduled to take off on or after 23 September 2017, click here for more, as has Delta Air Lines, click here for more.
Originally Published on 20 September 9.00am: Social media users around the world are sending their thoughts and prayers to people living in Mexico and the Caribbean today as both face the harsh wrath of mother nature for a second time this month.
In Mexico’s capital city, Mexico City, over 100 people were killed at around 6.15pm (local time) yesterday when a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake was centered near the town of Puebla and travelled at least 116.3km, bringing down several buildings in its path.
Momento del #sismo en la #CDMX durante la transmisión en vivo de ForoTV de Televisa. pic.twitter.com/1kto9aSeGG
— Benjamín Mijares (@BenjaminMijares) September 19, 2017
The severity of the natural disaster was captured during a live broadcast of a news program in Mexico (above). The footage captured a terrified host abandon his seat when lights in the studio flickered and his surroundings violently shook.
The live broadcast then switched to an outside camera where the roar of the natural disaster can be heard over the image of tremoring buildings.
A video posted to Instagram by Cuban musician, Randy Malcom of Gente de Zona, showed the aftermath of the earthquake, with smoke emerging from large cracks, streets ripped apart and collapsed buildings.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZPCUwwnCax/?hl=en&taken-by=randy_malcom
Mexico’s President, Enrique Peña Nieto, has urged residents to stay off the streets until emergency crew have had the opportunity to respond to the situation, clear any loose electrical wires and switch off gas lines.
Australians currently travelling through Mexico have been advised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) that they’re likely to experience severe communication disruption, but in the meantime, they should follow the advice of local authorities and emergency services.
The disaster hit on the anniversary of Mexico’s 1985 two earthquakes, which left some 6,000 people dead. It was also the second natural disaster for the country this month, following 7 September’s 8.1 quake in the west of the state of Chiapas.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Latin American brethren in Puerto Rico are currently bracing for category five Hurricane Maria to make landfall today.
https://twitter.com/vaughanabuse/status/910100225397788672
The severe storm described by the National Hurricane Center as “potentially catastrophic” is believed to be picking up speed en route from the islands of Dominica and Guadeloupe to Puerto Rico.
Locals and visitors are being advised to expect “life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides” .
Airlines such as Delta and United Airlines have issued travel waivers for holidaymakers with flights books to and from Puerto Rico in the coming days. Click here for United’s waiver options and click here for Delta.
The severe storm comes less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma rolled through the Caribbean, swamping islands with heavy rainfall and strong winds.