On Tuesday, a massive earthquake hit Mexico City with a 7.2 magnitude and killed hundreds of people, leaving thousands in panic, Bloomberg reported. The strong quake destroyed many buildings and shocked the whole region of 20 million people. It was the second earthquake that Hit Mexico in September.
Impact of quake on Mexico
According to the US Geological Survey (US scientific agency), the second earthquake's epicenter was 75 miles from the Mexico City, near Atencingo in the state of Puebla. The depth of the epicenter was 31.6 miles, BBC reported.
The agency said that Mexico is the most prone country to the earthquakes. It is situated on the four major crustal plates of the Earth.
The death toll was estimated to be at least 250. 71 people died in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla state, 86 in Mexico City, 12 in Mexico state, 3 in Guerrero and 1 in Oaxaca.
The recent earthquake reminds an 8.0 magnitude quake which killed 5000 people 32 years ago. The airport, the metro and the stock exchange in Mexico were temporarily stopped after the disaster. The stock exchange is supposed to open on Wednesday.
The Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said that after the collapse of the school, more than 20 students and two adults were killed, and 30 children and eight adults were missing.
Earlier this month, an 8.1 magnitude earthquake hit the country and killed at least 90 people.
Military, paramedics working in affected areas
Miguel Angel, Mayor of Mexico City, said that 44 places were badly damaged, including a factory, a supermarket and a six-story block of flat. In some hours of shocks, emergency workers, paramedics, and volunteers tried to search the people who were trapped under the debris.
The military officials rescued a survivor from the third floor of the partially collapsed building in the Roma Norte district. Hundreds of people gathered in the streets.
About 45 patients were moved from Hospital Obregon in Mexico and were taken outside to the shelter arranged for them under the trees. President Enrique Pena said at least 27 buildings were collapsed in Mexico City.
He returned to the city from Oaxaca to check the crisis but could not be able to land because of extreme damage, Bloomberg reported. He said that “The priority is to help victims that have been affected, and rescue those that are trapped in buildings."
The Federal Electricity Commission said over 4.7 million people in five states of Mexico had been left without electricity after the quake, but it restored power to 70 percent of affected places.