Mexicans displaced by deadly quake seek refuge from fear
MEXICO CITY — On rubber mats spread across a Mexico City recreation centre, the Montero family cuddles under donated wool blankets, their first new possessions after abandoning their apartment following the deadly magnitude 7.1 earthquake.
Across the capital thousands of Mexicans are now believed homeless after the tremor levelled entire buildings and left others teetering on the edge of collapse. Men, women and children are now filling up gyms and event halls at more than two dozen designated shelters. Many are uncertain where they will go next, but grateful to have a safe refuge.
“I am sure nothing is going to fall here,” 7-year-old Oscar Montero says.
The Montero family lived on the first floor of a seven-story apartment building that on Tuesday became perilously sandwiched between neighbouring towers on each side that have begun caving in. No one in the family of five was home during the quake. Oscar and his two older siblings were all at school, his parents at work.