A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck central Mexico on Tuesday, just weeks after another earthquake struck the country’s southern border and killed at least 90 people, AP reports.
Several buildings collapsed and cracked as a result of Tuesday’s quake, scattering debris on the streets of Mexico’s central state Puebla, home to approximately 2.5 million people. The full extent of the damage is not yet clear, and at least 42 people have been killed in the Mexican state of Morelos.
As of Wednesday morning, at least 226 had died, according to Mexico's federal civil defense agency.
BREAKING: Governor of Morelos says 42 dead in his central Mexican state following quake.
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 19, 2017
Residents in Mexico City, just 75 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter, felt tremors, and some buildings collapsed there as well.
All schools in central Mexico are closed until further notice, and Mexico City's airport is also closed, CNN reports.
Mexico City after earthquake. pic.twitter.com/qd3VeLslAf
— Jorge Guajardo (@jorge_guajardo) September 19, 2017
In the wake of the earthquake, President Enrique Peña Nieto called an emergency meeting.
"I have called a meeting for the National Emergency Committee to evaluate the situation and to coordinate any actions. Plan MX has been activated," the president wrote in a tweet.
He convocado al Comité Nacional de Emergencias para evaluar la situación y coordinar acciones. El PlanMX ha sido activado.
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) September 19, 2017
A large part of Mexico City was built on former lakebed, which means the soil can amplify the effects of earthquakes, even when the epicenter is hundreds of miles away.
Mexico City also felt the earthquake earlier this month that hit the southern part of the country.
Susan Hough, a US Geological Survey seismologist, said Tuesday’s earthquake was probably an aftershock to the magnitude-8.1 quake that struck Mexico’s Oaxaca state on September 7.
Today’s quake came on the anniversary of a similar disaster 32 years ago in 1985, when a magnitude-8.1 earthquake killed an estimated 9,500 people in and around Mexico City.
Earlier today, workplaces across the country held readiness drills in remembrance of that tragedy.
US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were quick to the respond to the tragedy on Twitter.
God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2017
Thinking of those in #Mexico affected by today's #earthquake.
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) September 19, 2017
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also sent out a message:
Devastating news from Mexico City. My thoughts are with those affected by today’s earthquake - Canada will be ready to help our friends.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 19, 2017