A magnitude 7.1 earthquake rocked Mexico City on Tuesday, and – according to Graco Ramires, the Governor of Morelos – left 44 people dead.
Over 20 million people live in the Mexico City region alone, not including the area the seismic event directly hit, namely the city of Puebla.
The earthquake had a depth of 51 kms when it struck at 1:14 pm CDT. It hit on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which killed 10,000 people.
Primer reporte preliminar personas fallecidas. Mi abrazo solidario a familiares. Estamos atendiendo a familias. Nuestra fortaleza unidos pic.twitter.com/fyBFLQEfaS
— Graco Ramírez (@gracoramirez) September 19, 2017
A multi-storey building’s collapse during the shaking was caught on video:
Devastating images from Mexico City. pic.twitter.com/RpF7sUq31s
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) September 19, 2017
Scenes of the wide-spread destruction were shared on Twitter by others as well.
Mexico City Airport Terminal 2 Damaged By Massive 7.1 #Earthquake. Flights On Hold.#sismo #MexicoCity #PrayForMexicopic.twitter.com/TERC7b291o
— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) September 19, 2017
#CDMX | Cientos de voluntarios están ayudando en las tareas de rescate, tras el fuerte sismo magnitud 7.1 ocurrido este martes. pic.twitter.com/oufQ24h2EK
— XEVA TABASCO (@XEVATabasco) September 19, 2017
Reporte preliminar de fallecidos tras sismo magnitud 7.1 de este martes 19 de septiembre. 42 #Morelos, 8 #EdoMex, 4 #Puebla, 4 #CDMX pic.twitter.com/bizzQmVEXv
— XEVA TABASCO (@XEVATabasco) September 19, 2017
In response to the quake, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his thoughts and condolences and said Canada “will be ready to help our friends.”
Devastating news from Mexico City. My thoughts are with those affected by today’s earthquake – Canada will be ready to help our friends.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 19, 2017
Recently-elected BC Premier John Horgan said his thoughts were with everyone affected by the quake.
My thoughts go out to those affected by today’s earthquake in Mexico City. Stay safe everyone.
— John Horgan (@jjhorgan) September 19, 2017
This is the second major quake to hit Mexico this month.
On September 7, a magnitude 8.1 quake struck off Mexico’s southern coast, and was felt in the capital as well. The country was also battered by Hurricane Katia, a category 1 cyclone, at the same time.