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Mexican rescuers race to reach schoolgirl quake survivors

Mexican rescuers race to reach schoolgirl quake survivors
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By Tokunbo Salako
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Emergency crews have been sifting through rubble for hours after reaching 12-year-old Frida who said she's in contact with five of her friends

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In Mexico, the discovery of a group of schoolgirls buried alive has given rescuers fresh hope of finding more survivors from Tuesday’s deadly earthquakes.

Emergency crews worked with their bare hands in almost total silence to free 12-year-old called Frida Sofía who told them she was in contact with five of her friends at Enrique Rébsamen school.

The drama that’s unfolded on live television is being seen as emblematic of search and rescue operations throughout the capital. In Mexico City more than 80 people have been pulled alive from destroyed buildings.

At least 230 people are now believed to have died after the shallow 7.1 magnitude quake caused major damage in several states.

Although it’s too early to asses the damage, initial reports suggest collapses were limited to mostly buildings that predated a stronger devastating quake in 1985 after which regulations were changed.

President Enrique Peña Nieto has declared three days of mourning.

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