JUCHITAN, Mexico (CCTV) — Help arrived for some homeless families in Mexican town of Juchitan in Oaxaca State after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake hit the country’s southern coast.
Many are resting at the Technological Institute of the Isthmus that has become a temporary shelter for families left homeless following Thursday’s massive earthquake. Private citizens have brought food from a neighboring state, enough to feed hundreds.
On the night of the earthquake, Jocelin Gomez and her family were asleep. Her five-week old baby, Jose Daniel, was at her side when their home came tumbling down.
When the ground stopped shaking, they returned to their broken home and found their puppy, Pinky, covered in dust. He was hit by falling ceramic roof tiles.
She says they are glad to be alive, but they are just now coming to grips with the fact they are homeless.
“We’re not very comfortable, but we are fine. It’s better than having to stay in the street,” said Jocelin.
The Mexican government has sent mobile health units to the most affected areas. They are staffed with doctors, nurses and psychologists.
Mexico’s National Social Security coordinator Frinne Azuara is there directing a free service to survivors.
“From the day after the earthquake, the most common ailment we have been attending to is nervous breakdowns. Obviously, many people are very nervous, some in panic and they are very afraid,” said Azuara.
It is nearly impossible to calculate the full cost of the disaster, which destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and even a few colonial era structures.
The sound of children playing provides a bit of comfort, and a sign that life there is slowly returning to normal.
