A Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedic Chiko Hadad who is currently visiting Mexico spoke about Friday’s earthquake.
Hadad, 21, is currently staying in the Chabad House in San Cristóbal.
“We were in the Chabad House, preparing food for travelers who had returned from Las Novias, when suddenly we felt everything shaking,” Hadad said. “The light fixtures, the plates, everything shook.
We understood that it was a very strong earthquake, and acted according to protocol. We ran out of the building to an open place. There was a bit of confusion and hysteria.”
“We’re here with the Chabad emissary to Mexico, Rabbi Oren Raz, and from what we’ve seen, thank G-d none of the Jews or Israelis were injured.
We are prepared to provide any aid necessary, and I am in close contact with MDA’s operations center, which is prepared to send us any aid required.”
According to Hadad, authorities are expecting a secondary quake, and possibly a tsunami.
“We know some of the residents were injured, and there are probably others who were killed,” he admitted. “We are ready to go and help as much as we can, and we hope Shabbat (the Sabbath) will pass peacefully.”
Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto said Friday’s earthquake, which measured an 8.2 on the Richter scale, was the country’s strongest in a century.
The earthquake occurred near the Mexico-Guatemala border on Friday morning, and has thus far claimed six lives.