Mexico: Huge earthquake topples buildings, killing nearly 250
A strong earthquake has struck central Mexico, killing at least 248 people and toppling dozens of buildings in the capital, Mexico City.
President Enrique Peña Nieto said more than 20 children had died and 30 were missing after a school collapsed.
The 7.1 magnitude quake also caused major damage in neighbouring states.
The tremor struck shortly after many people had taken part in an earthquake drill, exactly 32 years after a quake killed thousands in Mexico City.
The country is prone to earthquakes and earlier this month an 8.1 magnitude tremor in the south left at least 90 dead.
The epicentre of the latest quake was near Atencingo in Puebla state, about 120km (75 miles) from Mexico City, with a depth of 51km, the US Geological Survey said.
The death toll was confirmed on Twitter by the country’s national co-ordinator for civil protection:
- Morelos state: 72 dead
- Puebla state: 43 dead
- Mexico City: 117 dead
- Mexico State: 12 dead
- Guerrero: 3 dead
- Oaxaca: 1
President Peña Nieto said more than 20 children and two adults had been found dead at the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City’s southern Coapa district. He said another 30 children and eight adults were missing.
Emergency workers, aided by volunteers, are working through the night to search the rubble of collapsed buildings for trapped people.
Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told TV network Televisa that buildings at 44 locations had collapsed or were badly damaged. These are said to include a six-storey blocks of flats, a supermarket and a factory.
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