School roof falls, kills 20 children
A WING of an elementary school collapsed in Mexico City on Tuesday, killing at least 20 children and two adults as it crumbled to the ground in the middle of the school day, according to reports.
A four-story building that houses Colegio Enrique Rebsamen was one of dozens that fell when a 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled the region.
Eleven children had been rescued as first responders sifted through rubble into the night, according to news site Animal Politico. At least 30 children and eight adults were still missing, according to Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto.
The school’s roof and balconies toppled to the ground while a large part of the structure remained in place.
Emergency responders were able to evacuate most of the children from the building.
The school enrolls kids in grades from kindergarten through middle school.
Families flocked to social media seeking information on their loved ones’ whereabouts.
Some relatives claimed they had received Whatsapp messages from two girls buried below the debris, but the claim could not be confirmed.
Authorities urged the public to avoid the frenzied scene because it was difficult for rescuers to hear children still trapped in the building, Imagen Noticias reported.
In Jojutla, a town in the state of Morelos, the Instituto Morelos secondary school partially collapsed, but no one was hurt, according to school director Adelina Anzures.
“It fell and everything inside was damaged,” she said.