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Mexico Mourns Victims Of Deadly Earthquake, Braces For Reconstruction

As of Saturday, officials report at least 61 people died as a result of the earthquake in Mexico. Thousands more have been left homeless.

By: Casey Mendoza

Posted at 3:58 PM, Sep 09, 2017

and last updated 2017-09-09 15:58:13-04

After an earthquake left at least 61 people dead and 250 wounded, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto declared three days of national mourning.

On Friday, Peña Nieto visited Juchitán — one of the cities most impacted by Thursday's earthquake. As of Saturday, officials reported 36 people dead in that town. Peña Nieto ordered flags to fly at half-staff out of respect for the community.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the earthquake at 8.1 magnitude, making it one of the strongest quakes ever recorded in Mexico.

As rescue teams search for more survivors in Tabasco, Oaxaca and Chiapas, other people are bracing themselves for reconstruction. A state senator from Chiapas told The Daily Beast, "We could be looking at more than 10,000 people facing crisis."

The earthquake destroyed almost 430 homes in Chiapas alone.