The Mexico City government says 52 people have been rescued from the rubble of collapsed buildings in the capital following Tuesday’s powerful earthquake.
The city’s Social Development Department tweeted the number Wednesday afternoon and added: “We won’t stop.”
The rescue efforts are continuing furiously, including at a primary and secondary school where 25 bodies have been found and a young girl was located alive amid the rubble.
Television network Televisa broadcast the nail-biting rescue attempt live after crews at the school in the south of the city reported finding the girl, seeing her move her hand and threading a hose through debris to get her water 24 hours after the quake.
The girl’s name was not made public. Rescuers moved slowly, erecting makeshift wooden scaffolding to prevent the remains of the teetering structure from crumbling. They implored bystanders to be quiet to better hear calls for help.
Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto says “every minute counts to save lives” of people under the rubble of buildings toppled by yesterday’s powerful earthquake.
Pena Nieto says the country’s highest priority is rescuing people in downed structures and treating the wounded. Earlier Wednesday he declared three days of national mourning in honor of the victims.
Earlier Wednesday he declared three days of national mourning to honor the victims.
The official Twitter account for the office of the Presidency announced the declaration, saying that “Mexico shares your pain.”
U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken to the president of Mexico in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that struck that country.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says that Trump “had a lengthy call” with Enrique Peña Nieto on Wednesday.
It is Mexico’s deadliest earthquake since 1985. More than 220 people have been confirmed killed by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which struck Tuesday.
Associated Press
