Metro Detroit family feels deadly earthquake near Mexico City

Magnitude 7.1 earthquake killed more than 100 people

MEXICO CITY – A Metro Detroit family working for Ford in Mexico City was in the middle of a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed more than 100 people and toppled buildings.

Andrea Valdemar was in the process of picking her daughter up at school when everything started shaking.

"(I was) sitting in my car, waiting for dismissal, and my car starts to shake, and I see all the power lines shaking around me," Valdemar said. "The two people on either side of me in their cars got out."

The school is outside Mexico City, and while the ground shook, none of the buildings collapsed.

Children at the school had just had earthquake drills that morning because it's the anniversary of the 1985 earthquake, which killed 5,000 people and registered as an 8.0.

The Valdemars live in a suburb of Mexico City, and while the ground shook violently at their home, they didn't experience the level of damage that's in the city proper.

You can watch Mara MacDonald's full story in the video posted above.


About the Authors:

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.