After Mexico Earthquake, Some 3,000 Buildings Could Collapse, Engineers Say

Some 3,000 buildings in Mexico City are at risk of collapsing after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that hit the country on Tuesday, according to engineers.

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The APL Engineers Association said they were able to locate the affected structures through a social network service where citizens have reported 5,000 cases, mainly in the capital city. 

The damaged buildings were found in the areas of Anzures, Napoles, Narvarte, Vertiz-Narvarte, Del Valle, Hipodromo Condesa, Tlatelolco, Insurgentes, Tlalpan and Xochimilco.

A representative of the association, Alberto Lopez Acevedo, said the buildings have serious fissures in their walls and columns.

"We opened several WhatsApp accounts where people could send photographs of the cracks and damages to their homes, which are evaluated by a dozen engineers and architects," Lopez told Publimetro.

Lopez added that there was damage in buildings up to 20 floors and that some would need to be evacuated immediately.

"If after the evaluation is concluded there is structural damage which endangers the building, we will send a land brigade to determine if it's necessary to evacuate immediately."

The earthquake has left at least 286 dead and hundreds are still missing in several areas of the region.