After being Struck by hurricane Katia and feeling the powerful shakes of an 8.1 earthquake off its coast in early September, Mexico was struck by a 7.1 earthquake on Tuesday afternoon. This is the largest earthquake Mexico has experienced since 1985 when an 8.0 earthquake killed 5,000 people.
In the midst of performing earthquake drills on the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, Mexico City began to shake. Images are pouring in of buildings being demolished and survivors seeking medical help. Citizens and rescue crews searched through the night under the rubble for loved ones and victims who might be trapped.
In southern Mexico City, 25 people were killed inside the Escuela Enrique Rebsamen, an elementary and primary school, after it collapsed in on itself. Of the victims, 21 of them were young children.
The Weather Channel is reporting that at least 225 people have been killed.
Facebook has set up a safety check where users can pin their location and inform loved ones that they are safe. Users are also taking to Twitter to express their condolences for victims.
"Rescue teams in Mexico raise their hands to ask for silence so they can try to hear possible earthquake survivors"
— Ishmael Beah (@IshmaelBeah) September 20, 2017
Stay strong Mexico City pic.twitter.com/DUEIBatymy
If safe following #MexicoCityEarthquake, contact loved ones directly or use social media to let them know your status. #Mexico #Earthquake
— Travel - State Dept (@TravelGov) September 19, 2017
2017 extreme weather
This year's hurricane season has brought devasting and extreme weather.
Three weeks ago, Hurricane Harvey flooded Houston and stranded Texans in surrounding towns. Immediately afterward, Hurricane Irma, one of the worst hurricanes ever witnessed, demolished the Carribean and soaked the majority of Florida. Survivors of this hurricane are now experiencing 140mph plus winds from category 4 Hurricane Maria -- the strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in almost 90 years.
According to a National Geographic report, the catastrophe of 2017's hurricane season is due to issues such as warmer sea surfaces. Before Hurricane Harvey devasted Texas, it had been 12 years since the United States had been hit by a category 3 hurricane.
FEMA
The destruction of Hurricane Harvey caused organizations such as the Federal Emergency Managment Agency (FEMA) to respond and provide crucial help to those affected.
Now that Irma has vanished, the task of rebuilding areas in Florida and Texas must begin. According to a report from Politifact, FEMA received $6.7 billion from Congress in 2017 to provide relief when necessary. Hurricane Harvey alone nearly wiped out the FEMA funding. Congress approved an additional $15 billion in Hurricane Harvey relief on September 8th. More funding is expected to come as cleanup and recovery from these hurricanes continues.
