MEXICO – Nine people were found dead and three were rescued following a landslide in central Mexico that buried the homes of several families on Saturday, the government announced on Monday.
The tragedy occurred in the municipality of Jilotzingo on the outskirts of the capital.
According to the National Coordination of Civil Protection (CNPC), rescue teams had reported on Saturday the death of a three-month-old baby, yet they did not specify if s/he was included in the nine bodies recovered.
Consequently, a total of 132 people were relocated to temporary shelters, while nearly 600 soldiers and other personnel have been mobilised.
Landslides are common in Mexico during the rainy season and hurricanes (from mid-May to mid-October). Additionally, the country is seismically active.
On Thursday, authorities will conduct the annual national earthquake drill, marking the anniversary of the 8.1 magnitude earthquake that struck on September 19, 1985, causing thousands of deaths and destroying parts of the capital.
