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Mexico City earthquake: School collapses killing at least 20 children and two adults

President Enrique Pena Nieto confirms another 38 people still missing at Enrique Rebsamen building as death toll continues to rise following 7.1 magnitude quake

Wednesday 20 September 2017 01:11 EDT
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Rescue workers search for children trapped inside the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City
Rescue workers search for children trapped inside the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City (Carlos Cisneros/AP)

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Mexico's President says 22 people have died at a school that collapsed in the nation's capital due to Tuesday's 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

President Enrique Pena Nieto said that two of the bodies found were adults.

It is not clear whether the deaths are already included in the overall toll of at least 149 across the country.

​Pena Nieto visited the school late on Tuesday and said in comments broadcast online by Financiero TV that 30 children and eight adults were still reported missing.

Rescue workers were continuing to search and listening for sounds from the rubble.

Earlier the head of Mexico's civil defence agency said the nationwide death toll from Tuesday's earthquake has risen to 149.

Luis Felipe Puente said 55 people died in Morelos state, just south of the capital, while 49 died in Mexico City and 32 died in Puebla state, the location of the earthquake's epicentre.

Ten people died in Mexico State, which surrounds the capital, and three in Guerrero state. The count did not include one death reported by officials in Oaxaca state.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the magnitude 7.1 quake was centered near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 76 miles southeast of Mexico City.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is saddened by the loss of life and damage resulting from the earthquake.

Mr Guterres extended his condolences to the government and people of Mexico and wished those injured a speedy recovery, according to a statement released by his spokesman.

The statement said the UN stands ready to assist Mexico following the quake.

PA

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