The head of the Ministry of Public Education (SEP), Aurelio Nuño Mayer, reported that 2,224 schools have been been damaged in some way or another, most of them being minor damages.
In a few television interviews, Nuño Mayer indicated that there is also a possibility that schools will have major damages. So far in Mexico City 16 schools will require repair or total reconstruction.
He said that approximately 14 million students are out of school today, as a preventive measure and that the most important thing is to guarantee the safety of students and teachers.
“The most important thing is the safety of children, young people and teachers. We will be updating you day by day on the conditions,” he said.
Nuño Mayer said that the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the National Polytechnic Institute (IPN) decided to suspend classes, at least for today, because those institutions are ones in which the SEP has no jurisdiction.
He spoke of the tragedy that five people have lost their lives at the Tecnológico de Monterrey, meanwhile at the Enrique Rébsamen school dozens of deceased have been reported, but the searches are still on-going.
“The Rébsamen is a private education establishment, so far the numbers we have are that 25 were killed. Of those, 21 were children and four were adults, 11 children were rescued and are in hospitals. According to the Navy Secretariat, three people missing,” Nuño Mayer said.
He stated that the Navy is focused on rescuing children, and that SEP staff provides support, in addition to being in contact with teachers and parents.
It is likely that on Thursday there will be no classes in Mexico City. He stated once again that classes are suspended in 10 states.
