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Powerful Earthquake Strikes Mexico Powerful Earthquake Strikes Mexico
(35 minutes later)
MEXICO CITY — A powerful earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday afternoon, rattling the capital and sending people flooding into the streets for the second time in just two weeks. MEXICO CITY — A powerful earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday afternoon, toppling buildings, rattling the capital and sending people flooding into the streets for the second time in just two weeks.
The earthquake occurred shortly after 1 p.m. local time about 100 miles from Mexico City. It registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, and the proximity to the capital created heavy and prolonged shaking there. The earthquake occurred shortly after 1 p.m. local time about 100 miles from Mexico City. It registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, causing heavy and prolonged shaking in the capital.
In the immediate aftermath of the quake, some building facades in Mexico fell, crushing cars, while furniture and household items came crashing down in some homes. In the immediate aftermath of the quake, some building facades in Mexico City fell, crushing cars and trapping some people inside. The number of dead and injured is unclear.
Tuesday’s earthquake struck on the 32nd anniversary of another major disaster: the 1985 quake that killed as many as 10,000 people in Mexico.Tuesday’s earthquake struck on the 32nd anniversary of another major disaster: the 1985 quake that killed as many as 10,000 people in Mexico.
It also came less than two weeks after the most powerful earthquake in Mexico in a century, an 8.2 magnitude quake that killed at least 90 people, destroyed thousands of homes and was felt by tens of millions of people in Mexico and in Guatemala.It also came less than two weeks after the most powerful earthquake in Mexico in a century, an 8.2 magnitude quake that killed at least 90 people, destroyed thousands of homes and was felt by tens of millions of people in Mexico and in Guatemala.
Residents in Mexico City, having just experienced shaking from the quake less than two weeks ago, said the tremors on Tuesday was far worse. Residents in Mexico City, having just experienced shaking from that quake, said the tremors on Tuesday were far worse.
Images on Twitter began to pop up almost immediately, including damage to Mexico City’s main airport and other portions of the city. Nearly all residents of the capital remained outside even after the shaking faded, fearful of returning to their buildings. In parts of the city, the wreckage was evident immediately, including damage to the main airport. Nearly all residents of the capital remained outside even after the shaking faded, fearful of returning to their buildings.
In the neighborhood of Roma Norte, an entire office building collapsed. Rescue efforts at the offices were getting underway to save people trapped in the rubble. Several people suffered injuries and were quickly whisked away in ambulances. Others lay on the ground covered in dust. In the neighborhood of Roma Norte, an entire office building collapsed. Rescue efforts at the offices were getting underway to save people trapped in the rubble. Several people suffered injuries and were quickly whisked away in ambulances. Others lay on the ground covered in dust. An unknown number remained trapped or crushed inside.
Talia Hernández, 28, was on the second floor of the building, taking a tattoo class. When the earthquake hit and tore through the structure, she said she rolled down the stairs as they were collapsing. She managed to escape the building but broke her foot in the process.
She said that she and others managed to flee, but even the perimeter of the building remained dangerous. The heavy smell of leaking gas permeated the air, as it has across damaged parts of the city. Emergency personnel at the scene were pushing bystanders away, fearing an explosion.
“I can’t believe I’m alive,” she said, weeping and in shock. Medics were pulling shards of glass from her foot.
The scene was cordoned off, and the injured were being carted away on gurneys and placed in ambulances. The building itself was unrecognizable -– it had fallen entirely. The rubble, a brown-colored cement, rose nearly 20 feet high. The neighboring building was partially torn in the collapse as well.
Angela Cota, 52, an administrative secretary working in the building on the first floor, said that just as she and others were fleeing the building, parts of it fell around them. They, too, managed to get out, but it was unclear how many people remained stuck beneath the rubble.
“Only people on the first and second floor were able to escape when the building collapsed,” she said.
Other buildings in the neighborhood, which is vulnerable to earthquakes given its location on top of soft earth, were believed to have fallen as well.Other buildings in the neighborhood, which is vulnerable to earthquakes given its location on top of soft earth, were believed to have fallen as well.