The official death toll from the 8.2 magnitude earthquake that struck off Mexico’s southern coast late September 7 had risen to 98 by this newspaper’s deadline Thursday evening.
Emergency teams this week continued their search for victims in collapsed buildings in the states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, but the possibility they will find more survivors grew increasingly slim.
While the quake rattled Mexico City, causing people to rush out onto the streets in panic, it was not felt in Guadalajara. Residents of Poncitlán, Ocotlán, Jocotepec, Jamay, La Barca, Atotonilco, Degollado and other parts of Jalisco did report feeling the tremor. No damage has been reported in Jalisco.
A tsunami alert was issued for the entire Mexican Pacific coast, and stronger than usual wave surges were noted on the Jalisco and Colima coastlines, although no flooding or damage was reported.
As dawn broke the following morning, the scale of the quake’s power became evident. There was extensive damage to property in coastal towns and communities in the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, as well as destruction in the inland cities of San Cristobal de las Casas and Oaxaca City.
President Enrique Peña Nieto – who has made two trips to the region in the past week – declared three days of national mourning. He promised to oversee the government’s relief effort and ensure that help reached those who needed it quickly.
One of the worst affected towns was Juchitán in Oaxaca, where an estimated 5,000 homes have been destroyed, and part of the municipal palace collapsed.
Residents of Mexico City say the quake lasted up to a minute and caused many buildings to sway violently, although only minor damage was reported. Memories for many living in the capital are still vivid from the 1985 quake that killed more than 10,000 people.
The Mexican Seismological Service (SSN) said the September 7 quake was even stronger than that of 32 years ago. Its more distant epicenter off the coast, however, meant that catastrophe in the capital was avoided.
More than 1,000 aftershocks have been recorded since the quake, according to the SSN.