Mexico earthquake: People share harrowing firsthand accounts

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Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Some who left Mexico City after the deadly earthquake arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday. Many shared firsthand accounts of their harrowing experience.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Some who left Mexico City after the deadly earthquake arrived at Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday. Many shared firsthand accounts of their harrowing experience.

There were emotional reunions at LAX as loved ones shared hugs of relief.



PHOTOS: Powerful earthquake hits central Mexico
Rescue workers and volunteers search for survivors on a collapsed building the Del Valle neighborhood in Mexico City, Tuesday Sept. 19, 2017.AP
A witness captured rescue crews and thousands of people helping to pull people from the rubble and crumbled buildings.none
Rescue workers search for children trapped inside the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
An injured man is pulled out of a building that collapsed during an earthquake in the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
People search for survivors in a collapsed building in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
A man walks out of the door frame of a building that collapsed after an earthquake, in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
A cracked road is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
An injured person is put in an ambulance in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Patients lie on their hospital beds after being evacuated following an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Damage is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
Rescue workers and volunteers search a building that collapsed after an earthquake in downtown Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Damage is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
Damage is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
A cracked road is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
Debris is seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
Debris and downed power lines are seen in the aftermath of a powerful earthquake to hit Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.none
A man enters a damaged building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Remains of a damaged building stands after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
People evacuated from office buildings gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday Sept. 19, 2017.AP
A woman is comforted after an earthquake in Mexico City Tuesday Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Women embrace in the street after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
Remains of a damaged building stands after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.AP
A woman speaks on her cell phone as people evacuated from office building gather in Reforma Avenue after an earthquake in Mexico City, Tuesday Sept. 19, 2017.AP
The ABC7 quake cam captures a massive earthquake that struck near Puebla, Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.KABC
A map from the U.S. Geological Survey captures a massive earthquake that struck near Puebla, Mexico on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.KABC


Several passengers getting off flights from Mexico City told Eyewitness News about the incredible shaking.

"I was at the terminal at the airport and it was scary," said Mirna Murillo. "I just heard the building roar, you know? And then I saw people start running."

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Guadalupe Foss said driving through Mexico City after the quake brought up the same feelings she had when the massive earthquake struck back in 1985.

"But yes," Foss said with a sigh. "I'm here."

VIDEO: A look back at the 1985 Mexico City earthquake
The 1985 Mexico City Earthquake


Julien Filhol said when the quake struck, he grabbed his children and his cellphone and went outside.

WATCH: Drone footage shows aftermath of earthquake in Mexico
Drone footage shows devastation after Mexico City earthquake


"Just when I was getting outside of my building, the building in front of me just cracked in half," he said.

He said there was a man stuck on the fourth floor of the damaged building. So Filhol and a friend climbed up to help him.

MORE: LA County search and rescue team ready to deploy to Mexico

"I mean we had to jump on the stairs, because the building just cracked in half," Filhol said, adding that he was eventually able to rescue that man.

He also said he went to an area school to help remove rubble. Local officials had said that more than 20 children were killed at that location. Filhol described the experience as one he will never forget.
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