Hi there,

There has never been a more urgent time for courageous, daily, independent news. Media is essential to the functioning of a democratic society. Can you support Democracy Now! with $15 donation today? With your contribution, we can continue to go to where the silence is, to bring you the voices of the silenced majority – those calling for peace in a time of war, demanding action on the climate catastrophe and advocating for racial and economic justice. Every dollar makes a difference. Thank you so much!

Democracy Now!
Amy Goodman

Non-commercial news needs your support.

We rely on contributions from you, our viewers and listeners to do our work. If you visit us daily or weekly or even just once a month, now is a great time to make your monthly contribution.

Please do your part today.

Donate

Voices from Mexico City After the Earthquake: Aid Arrived Late in Poorer Areas, Help Is Still Needed

Web ExclusiveSeptember 21, 2017
Listen
Media Options
Listen

As residents of Mexico City gathered near an elementary and middle school and kindergarten that collapsed after Tuesday’s earthquake, some told Democracy Now! that help arrived late in poorer areas and that “help is still needed.”

Special thanks to Andalusia Knoll in Mexico City.

Related Story

StorySep 20, 2017Hundreds Dead in Mexico After Earthquake Strikes on Anniversary of Devastating 1985 Quake
Transcript
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: In Mexico, the death toll from the massive, magnitude 7.1 earthquake has risen to 250 people, as rescue workers continue to search for missing people amidst the rubble. The earthquake struck just hours after residents participated in an earthquake preparedness drill marking the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 earthquake that killed 5,000 people. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has declared three days of national mourning. Tuesday’s quake caused scores of buildings and at least one school to collapse. On Wednesday, residents gathered at the site of collapsed buildings, hoping for news about their missing family members.

VANESSA RIVERA ROSALES: [translated] I am Vanessa Rivera Rosales, and I am looking for my brother in this building that fell down. He worked here, and we don’t know where he his. They told me that he is in a hospital with his wife, that they were able to get out of the building. But that is not true. His wife is in critical condition, but we don’t know if my brother went to look for my sister-in-law or where he is. We have been calling him, and it rings, but he doesn’t answer. If he was OK, he would have answered. This is all very sad. And we truly ask people to help us with supplies and water for all those that are here, and, if they know anything about Jaime Rivera Rosales, that they let us know, please.”

OBED MARTINEZ: [translated] My name is Obed Martinez. Something that I saw yesterday is that, sadly, our country keeps being a classist and racist country. Areas like this, which are a little more humble, the help has arrived late. I’m not saying very late, just late. Areas such as La Roma, Narvarte and Del Valle neighborhoods had more help and organizations organized by the neighbors. Here, you could see young people and other people helping. We have to be more human and stop recording with our cellphones. We have to dig with our hands to be able to do something.

FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ: [translated] My name is Francisco Hernandez. We are here at the elementary and middle school and kindergarten that collapsed here in Mexico City. We have many supplies and medicine and good medical help, but we still need more people. We are seeing that help is still needed. Sooner or later, more hands will be needed. There are still people alive here. After the earthquake, the school collapsed. The second floor fell through the first, even though a parked car prevented it from falling completely. And the soldiers here in Mexico City put a barricade so that it doesn’t fall any further. They have rescued many more people that are alive. That is very fortunate.

The original content of this program is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. Please attribute legal copies of this work to democracynow.org. Some of the work(s) that this program incorporates, however, may be separately licensed. For further information or additional permissions, contact us.

Up Next

Hundreds Dead in Mexico After Earthquake Strikes on Anniversary of Devastating 1985 Quake

Non-commercial news needs your support

We rely on contributions from our viewers and listeners to do our work.
Please do your part today.
Make a donation
Top