"The earthquake of 1985 is consider to be the worst tragedy in the history of Mexico City, for it’s magnitude of 8.1 in the Richter scale. This means, that the energy released by the quake was the equivalent of 1, 114 atomic bombs of 20 kilotons each".By: Gabriel Infante Carrillo
Twenty-four years ago today at 7:19 in the morning, when many of the residents of Mexico City were waking up and getting ready for another weekday of activities, when the land began to tremble for almost two minutes. In that lapse of time, hospitals, schools, department complex, public buildings, homes, a TV studios, theaters, factories all collapse leaving thousands of people under the debris, some survived, many didn’t.
Unfortunately there isn’t an exact estimation of the death toll and injured. Government officials, back then, informed that there were 6 thousands mortal victims and 10 thousands injured, but unofficial information estimated that there were more then 10 thousands deaths and 30 thousands were seriously injured and more then 50 thousand families lost their homes.
Material losses were estimated at four billion dollars in infrastructure, such as housing and public services, that paralyzed the city.
In addition to the many lives lost and infrastructures damages, the earthquake of 1985 is consider to be the worst tragedy in the history of Mexico City, for it’s magnitude of 8.1 in the Richter scale. This means, that the energy released by the quake was the equivalent of 1, 114 atomic bombs of 20 kilotons each.
For thirty-four hours the inhabitants of one of the biggest city of the world, were left alone in the middle of the tragedy, due to the incompetence by the city authorities and federal government. Common people, regardless of their social class, pick up their sleeves and with their bare hands they began to remove the rubble and try to safe as many lives possible. There were moments of joy, when someone was rescued from the debris, injured but alive, but there were also moments of deep sadness when dead bodies were brought out.
Even thought the official death toll was never revealed, there is no doubt, that without these unknown heroes, the number of mortal victims would have been higher.
1985 earthquake casualties in numbers:
• 2, 831 buildings suffered structural damage of some type.
• 880 buildings collapsed.
• 13 public hospitals facilities of six or more floors were totally or partially destroyed.
• The public sector lost 4, 387 register hospital beds, in other words, one of every four available in the metropolitan area.
• 32 subway station were out of service for several days.
• More then one million users were left out of electricity, and three days later of the event only 38% of the service was reestablished.
• 150 buildings were demolished.
• More then 516 thousands square meter of streets suffered some kind of damage, and 85 thousands square meter of sidewalks were destroyed or damaged.
• It was removed urgently 2, 388, 144 cubic meter of rubble, just to clear 103 priority routes.
• Between 150 and 200 thousands jobs were lost.
Video: Footage of Mexico City after the quake
Video credits: Youtube user AmorPorMexico
Song: Yo vengo a ofrecer mi corazón
This document is prohibited to be published in any other media, edited or rewrite without previous permission of it’s author. Copyright © 2009 EquisY: Los ejes de la Información.
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