Over 200 killed in deadly Mexico earthquake

World
Europe

· A 7.1 magnitude earthquake jolted central Mexico on Tuesday
· Over 200 people were killed in the powerful earthquake

Updated at 2:15 p.m. BJT – At least 200 people were killed in the catastrophic earthquake that struck central Mexico, civil protection agency said.

Among the dead, at least 117 people were from the capital city, including at least 21 children at a local elementary school.

Updated at 1:45 p.m. BJT – Death toll from Tuesday's earthquake in Mexico has soared to 226, director of the government's civil protection service Luis Felipe Puente said on Twitter.

Most of the victims were reported from the greater Mexico City area and in the states of Guerrero, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Tlaxcala.

Updated at 12:10 p.m. BJT - 21 bodies have been recovered from the rubble after a four-story elementary school which collapsed during the earthquake, AP has reported.

Search and rescue operation is underway as 38 students are still missing.

Updated at 10:50 a.m. BJT - At least 149 people were killed so far in massive Mexico earthquake, the director of the government's civil protection service Luis Felipe Puente said.

Twitter screenshot

The Popocatepetl volcano, an active volcano 70 kilometers southeast of Mexico City, had a small eruption as the quake jolt the country.

Witnesses said that a large plume of smoke could be seen from the volcano. Luis Felipe Puente confirmed the volcano alert has been at "yellow phase two."

Photo via Twitter

Updated at 10:10 a.m. BJT - Five people from Taiwan have been trapped in the rubble of a collapsed office building in eastern Mexico City and a rescue operation is underway, according to Central News Agency.

Updated at 8:50 a.m. BJT - At least 138 people were killed in a powerful earthquake that jolted central Mexico on Tuesday, the director of the government's civil protection service Luis Felipe Puente said.

Mexican defense ministry has dispatched 3,400 soldiers to Mexico City for the rescue operation.

Updated at 7:50 a.m. BJT - Death toll from Mexico earthquake has risen to 134, said officials.

Mexican federal police said at least 650 officers have been dispatched to the quake-hit area for the rescue operation.

Rescue team search for people trapped in the rubble of a collapsed building in Mexico City, September 19./CGTN Photo

Police seal off a quake-hit area as rescue operation is underway in Mexico City, September 19./CGTN Photo

Updated at 7:44 a.m. BJT - At least 119 people were killed after a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rocked central Mexico on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

The quake hit near the Raboso, 123 kilometers southeast of Mexico City at 1:14 p.m. local time (1814GMT) on Tuesday at a depth of 51 kilometers, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

Volunteers and members of emergency services are working to find trapped people from the rubbles as the powerful quake has pulled down buildings in the capital city.

An 8.1-magnitude earthquake struck off Mexico’s southern state of Oaxaca, killing at least 90 people nearly two weeks ago.

Tuesday marks the anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, which took thousands of lives after an 8.0-magnitude quake and several aftershocks.

12555km