News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

mexico-earthquake-main_article_image.jpg
AP Photo/Luis Alberto Cruz
World News

Christian charity plans to help after powerful earthquake in Mexico

by Tola Mbakwe

One of the most powerful earthquakes ever to strike Mexico has killed at least 32 people, toppling houses and businesses and sending panicked people into the streets more than 650 miles away.

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake hit off southern Chiapas state near the Guatemalan border with a magnitude as 8.1 - equal in force to a 1985 quake that killed thousands and devastated large parts of Mexico City.

Hundreds of buildings collapsed or were damaged, power was cut to more than 1.8 million people and authorities closed schools in at least 11 states for safety checks.

AP Photo/Luis Alberto Cruz
Debris from a collapsed wall sits in Oaxaca, Mexico, after an earthquake early Friday.

Guillermo Lozano Leo is the humanitarian and emergency affairs director in Mexico for Christian charity World Vision.

He told Premier he felt a shake around midnight and emergency alerts started to go off for a tsunami. He said that's when he saw a lot of people leaving their homes.

Leo and other World Vision staff are located about 200 miles from where the earthquake made the most damage in the southern coast of Mexico.

He added: "There's a lot of concern over there because people in the southern coast are the most vulnerable in terms of poverty and in terms of infrastructure.

"So right now there's a lot of concern because they're dealing with buildings that have collapsed."

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said waves more than 3ft above the tide level were measured off Salina Cruz, Mexico. Smaller tsunami waves were observed on the coast or measured by ocean gauges in several other places.

Leo said World Vision staff in Mexico has been working with local churches to assess the needs of families worst affected.

Listen to Guillermo Lozano Leo speaking with Premier's Tola Mbakwe here:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate