At least 200 people are dead after a strong earthquake hit central Mexico on Tuesday afternoon.
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Puebla state, 123km from Mexico City.
Government officials have said that over 20 children and several adults had died and around 30 were still missing after a school partially collapsed in Mexico City.
According to The Guardian, 500 soldiers and Navy marines are searching for the students and employees who are still missing.
The death toll had originally been feared to be higher, but the head of Mexico’s civil protection agency has since revised the figure to 216.
#Ajuste Hasta el momento se reportan 216 fallecidos: 86 #CDMX, 71 #Morelos, 43 #Puebla, 12 #Edoméx, 3 #Guerrero y 1 #Oaxaca.
— Luis Felipe Puente Espinosa (@LUISFELIPE_P) September 20, 2017
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake caused series damage in the neighbouring states, with more than 11 aftershocks registered so far.
The Associated Press report that dozens of buildings have collapsed so far, including more than 40 in Mexico City alone.
@SEDENAmx despliega 15 binomios canófilos, para la búsqueda de personas atrapadas entre los escombros causados por el #Sismo #CDMX pic.twitter.com/Z11cWe81LD
— @SEDENAmx (@SEDENAmx) September 19, 2017
Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto issued a video statement encouraging people to stay clam in the aftermath of the earthquake.
He emphasised that many people will need help, but that the priority has to be finding people who are trapped in the collapsed buildings.
He said:
“The priority at this moment is to keep rescuing people who are still trapped and to give medical attention to the injured people.”
#EjércitoyFAM aplican #PlanDNIIIE en la colonia Nativitas, CDMX, para la búsqueda de personas atrapadas entre los escombros #Sismo #CDMX pic.twitter.com/KY70hRyuNN
— @SEDENAmx (@SEDENAmx) September 20, 2017
The earthquake happened just weeks after a 8.1 magnitude earthquake in the south of the country, which left 90 people dead.
The 7.1 magnitude tremor also occurred on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake which killed thousands of people in the country.
Featured image via Twitter/Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional.
