Submitted by Cutberto Tenorio, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Mexico
Cuernavaca, Morelos
Two earthquakes in the past 13 hours in central Mexico have brought destruction in several cities. The first reports from national news indicate that the first movement registered at 1:14 pm with its epicenter in the state of Morelos measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. The second was a few minutes later with its epicenter in the state of Puebla measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale. The city of Cuernavaca, Morelos, the capital of Puebla and Mexico City all reported collapsed buildings in central areas. This has brought chaos, major damage and reports of deaths and hundreds injured.
The International Airport in Mexico City announced that they will close operations after reporting damages to structures and, it appears, to runways. President Enrique Peña Nieto was flying to Oaxaca when the earthquakes struck and decided to immediately return to Mexico City. He was unable to land at the International Airport and was forced to land at an alternate airport.
Social media has circulated videos and photographs that show damage and the terror that all inhabitants of these areas suffered today. It should be mentioned that the earthquakes were felt in various states in the Republic. In Veracruz they suspended classes in order to evaluate damages to school facilities. In Cuernavaca, the building of the Audiorama Communications Group collapsed in the antenna area, and it appears that someone lost his life in that building. Meanwhile in the same city the Radiologico buildings fell.
Up to now, Mexico City has reported 22 structures severely damaged. Meanwhile in Viaducto a building fell as well as in Vallodolid and Puebla. La Condesa and the Roma neighborhood were the most affected. The District Superintendent Pastor Pascual Cruz is in communication with the pastors of the Church of the Nazarene in this area and they are compiling a report of damages. We ask for prayers from every church.
We will keep you informed and we are alert. This earthquake was strongest in the center of the country, but states as far as San Luis Potosi saw its effects as well. There they evacuated their Historic Center. San Luis Potosi is more than 400 kilometers from Mexico City.
DONATE: https://give.nazarene.org/donate/f/128252
