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QUAKE STRIKES MEXICO

Mexico City earthquake – Rescuers battle to save children trapped beneath rubble of school that collapsed during quake which killed 273

BRAVE rescue workers last night continued their battle to find children buried beneath a collapsed school in Mexico.

Over 30 children were missing following the collapse of Enrique Rébsamen primary school following the powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake which ripped the country killing at least 273 and injuring 1, 900.

 Hundreds of rescue workers are continuing their search to find trapped children inside Enrique Rébsamen primary school in Mexico City's southern Coapa district
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Hundreds of rescue workers are continuing their search to find trapped children inside Enrique Rébsamen primary school in Mexico City's southern Coapa districtCredit: AFP or licensors
 Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto told rescue crews 'every minute counts to save lives'
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Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto told rescue crews 'every minute counts to save lives'Credit: Rex Features
 Police raise their hands as a sign of a request for absolute silence, after hearing some noise during the search for people still alive
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Police raise their hands as a sign of a request for absolute silence, after hearing some noise during the search for people still aliveCredit: EPA
 A man was rescued from a collapsed building after more than 24 hours after Tuesday's devastating earthquake
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A man was rescued from a collapsed building after more than 24 hours after Tuesday's devastating earthquakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake ripped through Mexico City and surrounding states yesterday killing at least 230
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A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake ripped through Mexico City and surrounding states yesterday killing at least 230Credit: AP:Associated Press
 Hopes of the rescue workers were raised after they pulled a young girl from the rumble
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Hopes of the rescue workers were raised after they pulled a young girl from the rumbleCredit: AFP or licensors
 Worried parents gathered to hear news of missing children at the site of the school
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Worried parents gathered to hear news of missing children at the site of the schoolCredit: AFP or licensors
 People helping with the rescue efforts embraced as they fought to find people alive in the rubble
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People helping with the rescue efforts embraced as they fought to find people alive in the rubbleCredit: Reuters
 The school collapsed during yesterday's earthquake killing at least 21 children and five adults
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The school collapsed during yesterday's earthquake killing at least 21 children and five adultsCredit: AP:Associated Press

Hundreds of students and staff members were inside the building when it collapsed during Tuesday's earthquake. So far 21 children and five adults were found dead in the rubble.

One of those trapped, a 13-year-old girl, was thought to be sheltering under a table.

More than 500 members of the army and navy joined 200 Mexican police officers and volunteers joined in rescue efforts to find those missing in Mexico City's southern Coapa district.

Hopes among rescuers were raised after a girl was discovered alive in the debris of the primary school.

The wiggling fingers of a youngster pinned down by the rubble brought relief to rescuers on Wednesday morning as she responded to their questions.

The girl, said to be called Frida Sofia, was still trapped hours later and had not been rescued despite frantic efforts. The next day authorities said they now doubted the child was ever there as officials said no child of that name was registered at the school.

 Rescuers go to the aid of a potential survivor buried in the rubble
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Rescuers go to the aid of a potential survivor buried in the rubbleCredit: Rex Features
 Police raise their hands as a sign of a request for absolute silence after hearing noise in their search for survivors
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Police raise their hands as a sign of a request for absolute silence after hearing noise in their search for survivorsCredit: EPA

Last night rescue groups prematurely celebrated rescuing two young students from Rébsamen primary school.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto declared three days of mourning for the victims and dubbed the search for survivors as "a new national emergency."

He said: "Every minute counts to save lives."

"The priority at this moment is to keep rescuing people who are still trapped and to give medical attention to the injured people.

He also announced three days of national mourning in honour of the victims of the tremor which fell on the anniversary of the country's 1985 earthquake that killed at least 10,000.

At least 209 schools were affected by the quake - 15 of which have suffered severe damage - after a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake ripped through Mexico City and surrounding states.

 Rescuers begin the grim task of pulling out bodies from the rubble
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Rescuers begin the grim task of pulling out bodies from the rubbleCredit: Reuters
 More than 200 people died in the devastating quake in Mexico
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More than 200 people died in the devastating quake in MexicoCredit: Reuters
 Last night's heavy rain threatened instability to collapsed school floors that are already struggling to be held up with hundreds of wooden beams
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Last night's heavy rain threatened instability to collapsed school floors that are already struggling to be held up with hundreds of wooden beamsCredit: AFP or licensors
 An unknown amount of Meixcans are feared trapped underneath the rubble of toppled buildings
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An unknown amount of Meixcans are feared trapped underneath the rubble of toppled buildingsCredit: Reuters
 People move bottles of water during rescue efforts on a collapsed building
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People move bottles of water during rescue efforts on a collapsed buildingCredit: Rex Features
 Rescue workers and volunteers move an injured man from the debris
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Rescue workers and volunteers move an injured man from the debrisCredit: Rex Features

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said this morning a total of 115 people died in the capital, before it rose to 137.

That would bring the nationwide death toll to 273, based on an earlier federal government report counting 100 deaths in the capital and putting the overall number of confirmed deaths at 230.

Yesterday a man was pulled alive from the rubble of a partly collapsed apartment block after more than 24 hours after Tuesday's quake.

However last night heavy rain in the area threatened to add instability to collapsed school floors that are already struggling to be held up with hundreds of wooden beams.

Some relatives said they had received Whatsapp message from two girls inside the school.

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 At least 209 schools were affected by the quake with 15 left severely damaged
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At least 209 schools were affected by the quake with 15 left severely damagedCredit: AP:Associated Press
 More than 50 people have been pulled alive across the city due to rescue efforts
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More than 50 people have been pulled alive across the city due to rescue effortsCredit: EPA
 Hundreds took part in a rescue mission at Enrique Rebsamen primary school in a bid to find children trapped under the rubble
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Hundreds took part in a rescue mission at Enrique Rebsamen primary school in a bid to find children trapped under the rubble
 Volunteers seen collecting aid for the rescue mission
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Volunteers seen collecting aid for the rescue missionCredit: Getty Images - Getty
 Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced three days of national mourning in honour of the victims
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Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto announced three days of national mourning in honour of the victimsCredit: AFP or licensors
 Volunteers and rescue workers line up to work in rescue operations on collapsed buildings
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Volunteers and rescue workers line up to work in rescue operations on collapsed buildingsCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A woman dishes out masks in front of a collapsed building
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A woman dishes out masks in front of a collapsed buildingCredit: Rex Features
 Rescue workers search for trapped victims after President Peña Nieto said 'every minute saves lives'
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Rescue workers search for trapped victims after President Peña Nieto said 'every minute saves lives'Credit: Getty - Contributor
 About 30 children are still missing from the Enrique Rebsamen school in the city after the devastating quake
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About 30 children are still missing from the Enrique Rebsamen school in the city after the devastating quakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Rescue teams looking for people trapped in the rubble at the Enrique Rebsamen elementary school in Mexico City
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Rescue teams looking for people trapped in the rubble at the Enrique Rebsamen elementary school in Mexico CityCredit: AFP or licensors
 The country has been left stunned by the devastating earthquake. Pictured are rescue efforts at the school
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The country has been left stunned by the devastating earthquake. Pictured are rescue efforts at the schoolCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Authorities worked overnight to try and rescue anyone trapped underneath the rubble
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Authorities worked overnight to try and rescue anyone trapped underneath the rubbleCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A terrified woman hugs a child tightly outside the school in Mexico City
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A terrified woman hugs a child tightly outside the school in Mexico CityCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A man comforts a frightened student as he collects her from her school in the Roma neighborhood
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A man comforts a frightened student as he collects her from her school in the Roma neighborhoodCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Buildings have been flattened by the quake which struck last night and has left hundreds dead
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Buildings have been flattened by the quake which struck last night and has left hundreds deadCredit: Reuters
 Rescue efforts continue as people desperately try to rescue those trapped under collapsed buildings
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Rescue efforts continue as people desperately try to rescue those trapped under collapsed buildingsCredit: AP:Associated Press
 The quake came on the anniversary of the 1985 tremor that killed at least 10,000 people
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The quake came on the anniversary of the 1985 tremor that killed at least 10,000 peopleCredit: Splash News
 Rescue personnel work to free people trapped in the rubble
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Rescue personnel work to free people trapped in the rubbleCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A resident fearing dangerous aftershocks sleeps outside
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A resident fearing dangerous aftershocks sleeps outsideCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Rescue workers and volunteers attend to the rubble in search for survivors after a 7.1 earthquake hit Mexico
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Rescue workers and volunteers attend to the rubble in search for survivors after a 7.1 earthquake hit MexicoCredit: AFP or licensors
 A woman covered in dust is rescued by emergency services following a devastating 7.1 earthquake at the centre of the country
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A woman covered in dust is rescued by emergency services following a devastating 7.1 earthquake at the centre of the countryCredit: AFP or licensors
 At least 50 people have been pulled alive from the rubble by citizens and rescue workers in the city
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At least 50 people have been pulled alive from the rubble by citizens and rescue workers in the cityCredit: AFP or licensors

 

Pedro Serrano, a 29-year-old doctor, was one of the ordinary Mexicans who had volunteered to join the rescue effort. He crawled into a crevice amid the tottering pile.

"We dug holes, then crawled in on our bellies," Serrano said.

With barely room to move, he wriggled deeper into the wrecked school.

"We managed to get into a collapsed classroom. We saw some chairs and wooden tables," Serrano said. "The next thing we saw was a leg, and then we started to move rubble and we found a girl and two adults a woman and a man."

Prime Minister Theresa May said her "thoughts and sympathies" were with all those affected by the earthquake.

"The UK Government is in close contact with the relevant authorities and we are ready to provide support in any way that we can," she said in a statement.

"We are working to identify and support any affected British nationals as the recovery effort continues."

 A man stands on a pile of rubble during the overnight searches
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A man stands on a pile of rubble during the overnight searchesCredit: Rex Features
 A boy sits in the gutter as he stares at the destruction in Mexico City
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A boy sits in the gutter as he stares at the destruction in Mexico CityCredit: Rex Features
 The massive tremor flattened dozens of buildings in the capital city
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The massive tremor flattened dozens of buildings in the capital cityCredit: Reuters
 A rescue worker sifts his way through the rubble
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A rescue worker sifts his way through the rubbleCredit: Reuters

At least 50 people have been pulled alive from the rubble all over the city after heroic efforts from locals and rescue workers in the city.

After the devastating quake locals were seen using shopping carts from a nearby supermarket to help carry the rubble in a Mexico City.

Shocking footage shows buildings swaying side to side in the city as officials say the quake would have been felt by at least 30 million.

Medics set up makeshift field hospitals in the streets, treating people for broken limbs and crush injuries.


Were you caught up in the Mexico City earthquake? Contact The Sun at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368


Many people lay on stretchers, with doctors holding strips of cardboard boxes over victims' heads to protect them from the sun

"Awful. I think it was one of the strongest we've felt. I don't know what magnitude, but it was awful," said Pedro Cruz Martinez, a public servant cradling his little girl, after joining the rush of fearful parents to a local school.

Immediately after the powerful quakes struck dozens of people began to scrabble with bare hands to remove rubble from collapsed buildings as they waited for help.

Amid the shock some cheers and applause echoed around the crowded Calle Alvaro Obregon in Roma this morning as rescuers managed to pull someone out from under the rubble.

Brit Amy Poulton was caught up in the carnage.

She said: "I've been told that because the epicentre is near to Mexico City so there will be aftershocks.

"So I'm a little bit nervous about being on the second floor at least it's a floor lower than I was for the first earthquake and I'm a little bit more prepared now.

"But the city is a ghost town, I'm walking around trying to find somewhere to eat.

"I'm going to try and get some food and try and get some sleep then tomorrow might look into trying to leave the city because it looks like everything is going to be closed for a few days and I don't being around when the aftershocks come."

ooyala code="p4NW9xYzE6JwGpKOfhDE7qK-fNRxfOI2" player_id="NDcyOWI0M2YyMDdkN2YwODU5Mzc5MDUz" width="1920" height="1920" caption="Terrified onlookers watch as building collapses right in front of them" auto="true"]

 Firefighters, ambulance crew, police and residents get to work with in the city-wide rescue mission
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Firefighters, ambulance crew, police and residents get to work with in the city-wide rescue missionCredit: AFP or licensors
 Emergency services desperately worked to pull people from the rubble after the powerful earthquake
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Emergency services desperately worked to pull people from the rubble after the powerful earthquakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Mexico City has been devastated by the huge earthquake, which struck last night
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Mexico City has been devastated by the huge earthquake, which struck last nightCredit: AP:Associated Press
 The quake's epicentre was near the town of Raboso which is around 76 miles southeast of Mexico City
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The quake's epicentre was near the town of Raboso which is around 76 miles southeast of Mexico City
 A man is found underneath rubble in Mexico City
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A man is found underneath rubble in Mexico CityCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A huge fracture is seen crossing a road in the busy capital city
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A huge fracture is seen crossing a road in the busy capital cityCredit: Splash News
 Hundreds of Mexicans offer their support to rescue those trapped from collapsed buildings
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Hundreds of Mexicans offer their support to rescue those trapped from collapsed buildingsCredit: EPA
 A man tells the crowd to quieten down so rescue workers can hear the those trapped underneath the rubble
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A man tells the crowd to quieten down so rescue workers can hear the those trapped underneath the rubbleCredit: EPA
 Rescue workers pull an injured man from a collapsed building in the densely populated capital
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Rescue workers pull an injured man from a collapsed building in the densely populated capitalCredit: AP:Associated Press

Incredibly the tremor came just hours after citizens had staged a drill on the anniversary of a 1985 quake which killed 10,000.

Terrified locals fled to safety during the panic some with memories of the devastating quake 32 years ago.

Lists of people still missing have been posted on buildings which collapsed in the powerful tremors, as worried relatives can do nothing but wait.

More than 11 aftershocks have been registered with the strongest reaching magnitude.

At least 230 people have been killed, including 55 in Morelos, 49 in Mexico City, and 32 in Puebla state.

15 people were reportedly killed when a church on the slopes of a volcano - which appeared to have a small eruption following the earthquake - collapsed during a mass.

This earthquake comes less than two weeks after another powerful quake caused 90 deaths in the country's south.

 A devastating 7.1 earthquake rocked Mexico City killing at least 139 people
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A devastating 7.1 earthquake rocked Mexico City killing at least 139 peopleCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto says 27 buildings have collapsed in the Mexican capital
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Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto says 27 buildings have collapsed in the Mexican capitalCredit: AP:Associated Press
 People begin to smash the rubble in a bid to find survivors
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People begin to smash the rubble in a bid to find survivorsCredit: Reuters
 A rescue worker leans into a building flattened by the quake
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A rescue worker leans into a building flattened by the quakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A woman flees to safety with her baby along the streets of Mexico City
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A woman flees to safety with her baby along the streets of Mexico CityCredit: AFP or licensors

 

 Locals congregate to a safe haven after the devastating 7.1 quake to the city
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Locals congregate to a safe haven after the devastating 7.1 quake to the cityCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A car was crushed by falling debris from a damaged building
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A car was crushed by falling debris from a damaged buildingCredit: AFP or licensors
 Residents looks on at the large gaping hole in a building
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Residents looks on at the large gaping hole in a buildingCredit: Reuters
 Part of government building crumbled to the ground following the earthquake
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Part of government building crumbled to the ground following the earthquakeCredit: AP:Associated Press
 A building caves in due to the sheer impact of the earthquake
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A building caves in due to the sheer impact of the earthquakeCredit: Splash News
 A devastating earthquake Mexico's capital on the anniversary of a 1985 quake which killed 10,000
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A devastating earthquake Mexico's capital on the anniversary of a 1985 quake which killed 10,000Credit: AFP or licensors
 A chef stands beside the damage caused by the damage caused in his kitchen at a restaurant
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A chef stands beside the damage caused by the damage caused in his kitchen at a restaurantCredit: AFP or licensors
 An injured woman being attended to by an emergency worker
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An injured woman being attended to by an emergency workerCredit: Reuters
 Medical teams search for the injured in need of emergency treatment
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Medical teams search for the injured in need of emergency treatmentCredit: Reuters
 A child clasps the hand of an adult while being led to safety with his face covered
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A child clasps the hand of an adult while being led to safety with his face coveredCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors in the rumble of a collapsed building
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Rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors in the rumble of a collapsed buildingCredit: AP:Associated Press

US President Donald Trump shared his condolences tweeting: "God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you."

Local resident Georgina Sanchez said: "I'm so worried. I can't stop crying. It's the same nightmare as in 1985."

The US Geological Survey say the 7.1 earthquake was too far from the 8.1 quake that struck the country 11 days ago to be treated as an aftershock.

 A general view of Mexico City after the 7.1 earthquake struck
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A general view of Mexico City after the 7.1 earthquake struckCredit: EPA
 Millions were left fleeing for shelter when the quake struck at 1:14pm local time
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Millions were left fleeing for shelter when the quake struck at 1:14pm local timeCredit: AFP or licensors
 A woman cradles her dog following the devastating tumour that left over 100 dead
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A woman cradles her dog following the devastating tumour that left over 100 deadCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Locals and emergency crew rush to the aid of the injured
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Locals and emergency crew rush to the aid of the injuredCredit: EPA

Incredibly, expert surgeons continued open-heart surgery on a nine-year-old girl even as a huge earthquake rocked their hospital.

A hospital statement revealed that the doctors were five hours into the operation when the quake hit at midnight, but that they had no choice but to continue if they were to save the unnamed girl’s life.

The statement went on: "Protocols and emergency services were activated properly, patients, relatives and staff on the first and second floor were evacuated while on the rest of the floors, people were told to go to the secure areas."

Head of the specialised medical unit Guillermo Careaga Reyna explained that the girl was suffering from an infection caused by a graft put in her heart five years ago to fix a congenital heart problem.

He added: "The team of surgeons, nurses, anaesthesiologists and technicians were calm during the surgery, even during the earthquake and kept on going."

The patient’s mother Jessica Hernandez thanked the medical team continuing to work despite the incredibly difficult conditions.

The girl is still recovering in the intensive care unit.

 The quake's impact left buildings swaying side to side with some crumbling to pieces
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The quake's impact left buildings swaying side to side with some crumbling to piecesCredit: Twitter / @olivanoticias
 Emergency services lead the injured into a back of an ambulance for treatment
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Emergency services lead the injured into a back of an ambulance for treatmentCredit: AP:Associated Press
 Patients admitted to hospital had to be cared for on the city streets
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Patients admitted to hospital had to be cared for on the city streets

Images from the scene show collapsed buildings and cars covered in debris.

Local media reports say one of the collapsed buildings is a large parking garage alongside a hospital.

One hospital was so overrun by admissions it began to treat patients in the street.

Resident Alfredo Aguilar, 43, said: "The quake was really strong, buildings started to move. People just started to run."

One video shows the side of a government building crumbling and falling into the street as bystanders scream and head for shelter.

 The earthquake ripped through buildings in the city leaving devastating damage
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The earthquake ripped through buildings in the city leaving devastating damageCredit: AFP or licensors
 The full extent of the damage or injuries is not yet clear
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The full extent of the damage or injuries is not yet clearCredit: AFP or licensors
 There are unconfirmed reports of people being trapped underneath buildings
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There are unconfirmed reports of people being trapped underneath buildingsCredit: AFP or licensors
 Buildings have been left demolished after a 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico City
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Buildings have been left demolished after a 7.1 earthquake struck Mexico CityCredit: Twitter / @olivanoticias

The Mexican capital is home to over 20million people and is one of the world's biggest cities.

The quake's epicentre was around 76 miles southeast of Mexico City.

The US Geological Survey has put the quake at a 7.1 magnitude while Mexico's Seismological Institute said it measured it as a 6.8.

The institute says the epicentre was seven kilometres west of Chiautla de Tapia, in the neighbouring state of Puebla.

The country was rocked by a mammoth 8.1 quake just 11 days ago killing at least 90 people dead.

The country sits atop several large tectonic plates, making it prone to quakes.

 People receive treatment on the street outside a hospital after the quake
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People receive treatment on the street outside a hospital after the quakeCredit: EPA
 The Mexican capital is home to over 20 million people and is one of the world's biggest cities
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The Mexican capital is home to over 20 million people and is one of the world's biggest citiesCredit: AFP or licensors
 The quake comes on the devastating anniversary of the 1985 quake which killed thousands
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The quake comes on the devastating anniversary of the 1985 quake which killed thousandsCredit: AFP or licensors
 The powerful quake leaves cars covered in debris and the earth cracked
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The powerful quake leaves cars covered in debris and the earth crackedCredit: Twitter / @joluisgarcia
 The quake happened at 1:14pm local time causing carnage to the city's buildings
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The quake happened at 1:14pm local time causing carnage to the city's buildingsCredit: AFP or licensors
 The country was rocked by an earthquake just ten days ago
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The country was rocked by an earthquake just ten days agoCredit: AFP or licensors
 The country had carried out precautionary drills across buildings in the city on the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake
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The country had carried out precautionary drills across buildings in the city on the anniversary of the 1985 earthquakeCredit: AFP or licensors
 The epicenter was said to be near the town of Raboso, around 76 miles from Mexico City
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The epicenter was said to be near the town of Raboso, around 76 miles from Mexico CityCredit: AFP or licensors

A HISTORY OF MEXICO'S DEADLY QUAKES

September 7, 2017: Measured at a strength of 8.2, this quake is more powerful but less deadly than the one 32 years ago that killed thousands. Around 100 people are killed and more than 200 hurt, with the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas most affected. The quake is felt as far north as Mexico City - about 500 miles from the epicentre.

January 21, 2003: A 7.6-magnitude quake shakes the western Pacific coast, killing 29 people and injuring more than 300.

September 30, 1999: At least 22 people are killed in a 7.5-magnitude quake that strikes southern and central areas.

June 15, 1999: A 7-magnitude quake kills at least 25 people in the central Puebla region.

October 9, 1995: Measured at 8, this earthquake hits the western states of Colima and Jalisco, leaving at least 48 dead. In the town of Manzanillo alone, around 30 people are killed when a seven-storey hotel collapses.

September 19, 1985: One of the most powerful ever in the country, this 8.1-strong quake kills at least 10,000 people in Mexico City, though some estimates put the toll as high as 30,000. The epicentre is 350 kilometres from the capital, large sections of which are razed.



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