Magnitude-7.1 earthquake rocks central Mexico: What we know

A major earthquake rocked central Mexico on Tuesday, killing at least 217 people and causing hundreds of thousands to run into the streets in panic.

Here's what we know about the disaster:

Magnitude-7.1

The magnitude-7.1 quake struck central Mexico at 1:14 pm local time on Tuesday. The epicenter was near the town of Raboso, about 76 miles southeast of Mexico City, according to U.S. Geological Survey.  It was the second quake to strike in 12 days — a magnitude 8.1 earthquake, which was felt as far as Mexico City and Guatemala City, hit 74 miles off the country’s southern coast on Sept. 7, killing more than 90 people. That was the most powerful quake to strike the country in a century.

Death toll rising

Mexico's civil defense chief lowered the number of confirmed deaths to 217 on Wednesday. Luis Felipe Puente, the head of the national civil defense agency, had previously said at least 248 people were killed.  At least 25 people — 21 of them children — died when the Enrique Rebsamen school in southern Mexico City collapsed. Parents and bystanders desperately tried to rescue survivors. According to Animal Politico, at least 30 children and eight adults are still missing. 

Power out, buildings collapse

About 40% of Mexico City and 60% of nearby Morelos state were without power. Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 sites in the capital alone.

1985 disaster

The disaster hit 32 years to the day after a magnitude-8.1 quake devastated Mexico City in 1985, killing an estimated 9,500 people and destroying about 100,000 homes. The epicenter was reported to be in Michoacán state, about 200 miles from the capital.

Quake followed drills

The quake hit on a day when Mexican civil protection officials conduct earthquake drills  office workers, students and apartment dwellers practice abandoning their buildings. An earthquake drill occurred barely two hours before the quake.

Seismically active

Mexico is one of the most seismically active regions in the world — several major earthquakes have stuck the country over the past few decades. Mexico City rests on the bed of the drained Lake Texcoco and is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. The plateau is made up of soil and sand, rather than strong bedrock.

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