Searches of quake rubble go on as death toll hits 186

SEARCH TEAMS are still digging in dangerous piles of rubble in a bid to find survivors at collapsed buildings in Mexico City, where the death toll from the September 19 earthquake rose to 186, and 324 nationwide.

Officials had cleared only 103 of Mexico City’s nearly 9,000 schools for reopening yesterday.

The need to inspect 98 per cent of the capital’s public and private schools nearly a week after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake is a stark indicator of just how long the path back to normality will be.

Federal education secretary Aurelio Nuno said it could take a couple of weeks to inspect all of the schools, and the government will announce each day which schools have been cleared to resume classes.

For schools found to have structural damage, students could be put in temporary classrooms.

“For the safety of the boys, the girls, the teachers and for the peace of mind, of course, of all the fathers and all the mothers, all schools will be inspected,” Mr Nuno said.

Rescue operations aimed at finding living survivors remained active in at least three sites in Mexico City – two apartment buildings and an office building – but hope dimmed as rescuers had to retreat due to falling debris.

No-one has been found alive since Wednesday.

As darkness fell on Sunday, prayers were held by families near the collapsed office hoping missing relatives will be found.

A total of 38 buildings in the Mexican capital collapsed in Tuesday’s earthquake. Thousands of people are homeless because their houses or apartment buildings are too dangerous.