Mexico Quake Damage Worse Than ExpectedCatholic Relief Services Catholic Relief Services (CRS) announced today it will allocate $20,000 to help victims of the strongest earthquake to hit Mexico since 1995. "The damage caused by Tuesday's earthquake is significantly greater than originally thought," said Lourdes Toussaint, Mexico project manager for Catholic Relief Services, reporting from Colima and Mexico City. "And more houses were destroyed in Wednesday's aftershocks," said Toussaint.  Tuesday's quake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, and a second quake Wednesday measured 5.8, further damaging some buildings and causing the complete collapse of others already damaged. Reports indicate that nearly 9,000 homes have been damaged, most of them seriously, with more than 2,000 completely destroyed and more than 3,400 partly destroyed. At least 700 schools were also damaged. CRS staff report that an estimated 1,000 people are staying in shelters. Several whose homes were lost have remained in the streets, as they don't yet feel safe in buildings, Toussaint reported. At least 19 of the 22 deaths officially reported were in Colima, the Pacific coastal state hardest hit by the quake. Approximately 500 injured are being treated at Colima hospitals. In addition to providing emergency funding, Catholic Relief Services is working closely with Caritas Mexico and the Episcopal Commission for Social Pastoral (CEPS). Mexican government authorities continue to coordinate all initial response functions. Catholic Relief Services has been supporting human development and humanitarian efforts in Mexico since the 1960s. The agency has supported health and rural development projects, and has provided emergency assistance after disasters, including the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. CRS is now expanding activities to include both the southern and northern regions of the country. Catholic Relief Services is marking its 60th year as the official international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic Community. The agency provides assistance to people in more than 87 countries and territories on the basis of need, not race, creed or nationality. To contribute to Catholic Relief Services' efforts, send donations to: Catholic Relief Services
For more information, or to contact Catholic Relief Services, see their website at: www.catholicrelief.org |
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