drone footage mexico city earthquake header

Earthquakes can devastate an entire city. They level buildings and cause deaths all within minutes after starting. With debris everywhere, it makes it very hard for emergency crews to find people and assist them.

On Tuesday, September 20, 2017, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck Mexico City. It has left more than 200 people dead and a countless number injured. More than 40% of the town lost power, and blocks of buildings were leveled where they stood. The amount of destruction has left it impossible for rescue crews to access all areas where people are likely to be found.

This earthquake occurred on the 32nd anniversary of an even larger 8.1 earthquake that happened in Mexico City in 1985. It caused even more damage than the recent earthquake and killed more than 5,000 people. It took Mexico City years to rebuild after that natural disaster.

Drones come into play here because they are easily maneuverable and can give crews a bird’s eye view of the area without them having to make the dangerous trek in on foot. The drones are being flown over buildings and debri to try to locate any survivors that may be left among the destruction. It may also help them locate the missing and dead bodies that are within the rubble.

One particular building that is still missing people is a schoolhouse. The drones are being used to capture video and look for movement in what is left of the destroyed building. So far, 25 people have been located with 38 still reported as being missing.

As the technology advances for drones, it is likely that they will be used more often in emergency situations such as this. It decreases the odds of emergency workers getting hurt by digging through destroyed buildings and puts them directly into the areas that they need to be in. It also makes rescues faster since they can go directly to the victims that are captured in the drone video footage.

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