fbpx
childfund logo
ChildFund Offices in Mexico Shaken by Powerful Earthquake
+
Sep 21, 2017
E
22527 Views
l
t
Tweet

ChildFund staff received a terrific fright on Tuesday last when Mexico was hit by a large earthquake that rocked the Capital

The quake struck close to Mexico City, in the Provence of Puebla. Source: USGS

 

Dublin, September 21st, 2017:  ChildFund International (Edited Brian Mac Neill) 

The people of Mexico will never forget the violent 1985 earthquake that wrought enormous human and infrastructural damage on the country, particularly in Mexico City itself.  Countless buildings collapsed and thousands perished.  The trauma of that event still lives large in the memory of the Nation.   Astonishingly, with the kind of cruel irony that only nature can serve up, Tuesdays earthquake struck the country on the 32nd anniversary of that fateful day.   Earthquake simulation exercises (one of legacies of the 1985 disaster) were held just a couple of hours before the real deal arrived.   No wonder then that people were shocked, terrified and stunned by the sequence of events – but also ready to act immediately, which undoubted saved lives.   So far approximately 230 people are confirmed dead, including the tragic loss of around 20 children who died when their school building collapsed upon them.  Rescue efforts are now being focused on removing the rubble from the school as quickly as possible, to reach the children still trapped inside   http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-41343244

ChildFund colleagues in Mexico have provided a report describing how the day’s events unfolded there;

A 7.1 earthquake with its epicentre in Rabosa, Puebla, hit the country on Tuesday Dept. 19th at 13:14 local time.  Due to its proximity to Mexico City, it was felt in most of the city and the damages are significant, also in the nearby States of Puebla and Morelos, and to a lesser extension in the State of Oaxaca who had already been affected by a 8.2 earthquake on September 8th.  Most of the staff was present in our National office as it was during working hours. We had a simulation exercise at 11:00 am to commemorate the 1985 big earthquake so fortunately people had very fresh information about the security areas within the office and the evacuation protocol.

As the epicentre was located in Puebla, the early warning system didn’t activate in a preventative manner but the city alarms started ringing as soon as the first movements were perceived. The staff waited in their security area until the movement stopped and then evacuated the building. We took shelter in a nearby park which is the safest area around our office. After a while two members of staff were allowed to enter the building to gather all of the staff’s bags and purses and everybody was sent home until further notification.  Our building shows some cracks, in the stairs between ground and first floor, and in our floor, in one of the side walls. The building administrator reviewed the load-bearing walls and columns and said he didn’t notice anything alarming, but an official civil protection inspector is expected to visit the building to dictate whether it is safe to use. So until we are informed of the outcomes of this visit, we are maintaining all staff members at home, to avoid risks, and also because the transportation system has been affected and the streets must be left primarily to the ambulances, army and rescuers’ access.

In Mexico City the most affected neighbourhoods are the ones in the center and south-center of the city. Until now, 40 buildings collapsed and many more are at risk according to Mexico City’s mayor, Miguel Angel Mancera, and 24 are about to collapse in the central area of the city.  Rescuers are still working to save people trapped in the debris.  The Ministry of Public Education (SEP) decreed that all schools in Mexico City, Puebla, Morelos, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Mexico, Hidalgo and Michoacán should be suspended from classes today. Likewise, the institution reported that in Mexico City, 209 affected schools are counted, in a preliminary way, 15 with major damages.

Our local partners in programme areas  haven’t provided us with any worrying information, and everybody seems to be ok. This morning we received notification of some cracks in buildings that should be checked by Civil Protection authorities in the northern part of Oaxaca State, adjacent with Puebla, another in which the roads and bridges are closed until official inspection is Tonala, in the same region. In the northern part of Puebla State they felt the earthquake but haven’t reported any damage besides the fright.  ChildFund will continue to monitor the office building situation with the building administrator and local authorities, and monitor the local  partners until we are confirmed that all their staff, communities and enrolled children are accounted for.  ChildFund’s National Office manager and Child Protection Officer are evaluating the possibility of a support intervention in Mexico City, directed to children (safe spaces) and in coordination with the other NGOs

We will provide you with further updates from Mexico as they arise.

Thank you

please support our work for
disadvantaged children today


how you can help