Mexico to observe 3 days of mourning after 8.1 quake kills more than 60

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has ordered three days of mourning in the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in a century.


Nieto made the declaration after visiting the town of Juchitán late Friday, where the quake hit hardest.

The earthquake, measured by the U.S. Geological Survey at a magnitude of 8.1, has so far killed at least 61 people, authorities said. Some news outlets reported a few additional deaths.

Emergency crews have begun the recovery and cleanup effort, as the quake caused substantial damage in the southeastern part of the country -- the same region that also absorbed a direct hit from Hurricane Katia, a Category 1 storm, late Friday. At least two people died in a mudslide linked to the storm.

Nearly 2 million people were left in the darkness without power following the quake, and schools in 11 states were closed as a safety measure.

Though seismic activity is common in Mexico, officials said Thursday's quake was the strongest to hit the country in 100 years.
 [upi.com]
9/9/17
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• 36 dead as strong earthquake strikes near Mexico