Mexican President activates emergency rescue plan

Mexico City, Sep 20 (IANS) The Mexican president on Wednesday said his priority is to rescue people still trapped under the debris of collapsed buildings and provide medical assistance to those injured in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that killed at least 224 people.

In an address to the nation, Enrique Pe?a Nieto called for a national emergency committee meeting and ordered the activation of an emergency plan, including the deployment of thousands of members of the Army, Navy and the federal police to assist in rescue and relief efforts.

Pe?a Nieto said he was closely coordinating with the governors of Mexico City, Puebla and Morelos, the cities that suffered the most damage, reports Efe.

The emergency services of the Mexican Social Security Institute, the Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers and the Armed Forces were also standing by to assist people affected in the quake, he added.

Pe?a Nieto also expressed condolences to those who had lost a family member or loved one in the earthquake and reported that 40 percent of Mexico City and 60 percent of Morelos state were still without power.

The President said shelters had been set up for all those who need them and asked people to stay indoors as far as possible to facilitate aid efforts and the deployment of emergency services.