By Devin Dubon

Officials are sorting through the debris for survivors after the devastating earthquake that hit Mexico on September 19th.

The 7.1 magnitude quake destroyed cities in Central Mexico and killed at least 237 people so far, leaving hundreds more injured or displaced. This comes only 12 days after a magnitude 8.4 earthquake, the biggest to hit Mexico in around a century, struck off the coast, killing almost 100 people, leaving hundred homeless. 

Thousands of highways, schools, and other buildings been reduced to dust and police are searching for the many people still missing. Mexican president Enrique Peña Nieto has asked people to stay indoors and away from streets as rescue workers search.

However, citizen volunteers and many sports teams are teaming up to help the rescue effort. Shopkeepers, neighbors and passersby initiated rescue efforts themselves until emergency and armed forces arrived, hundreds forming makeshift human chains to remove debris and bring in water and medical supplies to affected areas. 

At least 44 buildings collapsed completely in Mexico City, according to official figures, with thousands more left damage an unstable. Mexico City Mayor, Miguel Ángel Mancera, said 52 people had been pulled alive from the rubble of collapsed buildings.

https://twitter.com/HarbingerMLEC/status/910453255104278528

"This is the spirit of us, of Mexico." From @grinsli @karadaniellefox @NicoleChavz https://t.co/XHCNqfJKH6

— Dakin Andone (@dakinandone) September 21, 2017

One of the hardest hit schools, the Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City’s Coapa district, collapsed leading to the death at least of 25 people, 21 of which were children. Three people are still missing, according to Secretary of Education Aurelio Nuno, two of which are children.

The whereabouts of about 30 children is still unknown, but a glimmer of hope arose as rescuers raced around the clock to rescue a girl buried under the collapsed school, identified as Frida Sofia. When rescuers almost lost hope of finding any more survivors, the spotting of the girl’s moving hand gave hope that some may still be alive.

En la escuela E. Rébsamen se ha logrado rescatar a 11 personas y 3 continúan desaparecidas: 2 niños y un adulto. Su rescate es prioridad.

— Aurelio Nuño (@aurelionuno) September 20, 2017

Crisis in Mexico worsens, leaving children as victims. WARNING: Some graphic images. https://t.co/5krDZBZspg

— The Harbinger (@HarbingerMLEC) September 20, 2017

All schools have been closed indefinitely and millions remain without power. Refugees are flocking to shelters around the city after losing their homes.

Although two earthquakes in a very short period of time in the same place seem unusual, it isn’t very rare, especially in an area as seismically active as Mexico. Mexico lies on the intersection of two major tectonic plates – the North American and Cocos Plates – as well as the Pacific Ring of Fire, which is a 25,000 mile area that surrounds the Pacific plate which is especially active.

Geologist John Bellini explains that the Cocos plate moves along quickly on the continental shelf. This, according to Bellini, “builds up the stress and strain at a faster rate … so you’re liable to have more fast and frequent earthquakes because of that.”

Mexico City in particular can – and has – sustained massive damage during earthquakes mainly due to it’s its position on the soft, pliable land of an ancient lakebed that amplifies an earthquake’s effect.

Regardless of the cause, volunteers from all over the world as well as international relief groups have stepped up to help search for survivors and relieve those affected by the earthquake. 

Peña Nieto has declared three days of national mourning in honor of the victims, and the death toll is expected to rise in coming days as rescue workers searched through the rubble. “Mexico shares your pain” was posted on the president’s official Twitter account as the period of mourning was announced.

The earthquake hit on the anniversary of the devastating 1985 earthquake, which is thought to have killed 10,000 people, leaving behind massive grief, destruction and a new sense of humanity in its wake.