As quake toll rises, local residents worry about safety of family

SAN JOSE » Rafaela Flores arrived at Our Lady of Guadalupe church early Saturday with a small amount of cash in hand. She had come to deliver a donation to the victims of Tuesday’s deadly earthquake in Mexico.

Like many anxious parishioners, the 48-yearold Flores is concerned about the safety of loved ones in her homeland, many of whom fear more earthquakes may be on the horizon. Also painful is the fact that she’s so far away from those who were affected, Flores said.

Her family lives about two hours from the small town of Jojutla in the state of Morelos, where at least 73 people died. A hill on the verge of collapsing may force her family to evacuate, according to Flores.

“You walk around wondering what’s going to happen next. It makes you so nervous,” she

said in Spanish. “You feel a sense of helplessness because you wish you could be there helping people.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe, which is on East San Antonio Street in East San Jose, remained opened 24 hours Thursday through Saturday so that parishioners could stop by at any time to pray. The church is also collecting donations to be sent to Mexico.

The 7.1-magnitude quake struck near Mexico City, killing more than 300 people. As rescue teams continue to search through the rubble — where many are still believed to be trapped inside — the death toll continues to rise.

On Saturday, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck southern Mexico, leaving many to wonder if the country is still at risk of further devastation.

“It’s distressing,” said 60-year-old Maria Montejano, of San Jose, as she sold fruits and Mexican treats from a cart outside the church. “In this case we have our hands tied because we can’t be there with the victims. But we are with them financially and through prayer.”

Montejano, whose family lives in the state of Michoacán, said a sister told her that they’ve experienced several tremors since Tuesday’s quake.

“What else can we do other than pray and help a bit?” she added.

José Traslavina, who was raised in San Jose and now lives in Los Baños, said family members in the northern state of Sonora are “spooked.”

“They’re scared, you know,” he said. “They’re just kind of worried.”

PATRICK TEHAN STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Visitors attend a baptismal ceremony at Our Lady of Guadalupe church in San Jose on Saturday. The church remained open 24 hours a day through Saturday, for parishioners who wish to say a prayer for those in Mexico following the devastating earthquake this week.