How to reach loved ones in Mexico after the major earthquake
The growing death toll from the major earthquake that rocked people near Mexico City has many people in Coachella Valley concerned about how to reach loved ones in the affected area.
MORE: Central Mexico earthquake kills more than 100, topples buildings
With widespread devastation interrupting internet and telephone service, it’s difficult to communicate with those who live in or are traveling through the center of the country of Mexico.
Here are some ways to try to get through.
Facebook Safety Check
Click here for the Facebook Safety Check page. You can search for a friend or find out which friends have checked in as being in the affected area. If you are in the affected area, check in as ‘safe’ to let everyone know you are okay without many phone calls.
Consulate of Mexico
The Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, Salomon Rosas Ramirez, serves Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The numbers to reach his office are (909) 889-9836 and (909) 889-9837. However, there was no answer at either line when we tried Tuesday night.
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/consulmexsanbe/status/910293919530868736″,”author_name”:”ConsulMexSBernardino”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/consulmexsanbe”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”es” dir=”ltr”&#gt;En relación al &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sismo?src=hash”&#gt;#Sismo&#lt;/a&#gt; que se vivió esta tarde en &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/M%C3%A9xico?src=hash”&#gt;#Mexico&#lt;/a&#gt; compartimos las siguientes recomendaciones y los números de emergencia. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/yaGGDzh7a3″&#gt;pic.twitter.com/yaGGDzh7a3&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– ConsulMexSBernardino (@consulmexsanbe) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/consulmexsanbe/status/910293919530868736″&#gt;September 20, 2017&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
Embassy of Mexico
The Embassy of Mexico in the United States shared a 24-hour line for assistance. Call 1-855-463-6395 to reach the Center for Information and Assistance for Mexicans. This number can also be used for legal matters and concerns about detained loved ones or immigration issues.
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/EmbamexEUA/status/910264006669193216″,”author_name”:”EmbamexEUA”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/EmbamexEUA”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;If you need information on today’s &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash”&#gt;#earthquake&#lt;/a&#gt; in Mexico City and other states, call &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/CIAM?src=hash”&#gt;#CIAM&#lt;/a&#gt; at 1-855-463-6395. Line is open 24 hours a day. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/MhbK01EINd”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/MhbK01EINd&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– EmbamexEUA (@EmbamexEUA) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/EmbamexEUA/status/910264006669193216″&#gt;September 19, 2017&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
US State Department
The United States Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs tweeted a message about the 7.1 earthquake.
{“url”:”https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/910272331284647936″,”author_name”:”Travel – State Dept”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/TravelGov”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;&#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mexico?src=hash”&#gt;#Mexico&#lt;/a&#gt;: 7.1 earthquake recorded near Puebla. Contact loved ones when you are safe. For emergency contact info: &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/0sAdD1mM0t”&#gt;https://t.co/0sAdD1mM0t&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/TravelGov/status/910272331284647936″&#gt;September 19, 2017&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}
For U.S. citizens facing emergencies, please contact the U.S. Embassy by calling 011-52-55-5080-2000. Please note, when in Mexico, you dial 55-5080-2000
Apps
Gabriela Quezada, main anchor for Kuna Noticias on Telemundo Palm Springs, says some people have been able to use apps like Zello and Voxer to reach loved ones. The push-to-talk voice messaging services reportedly work like walkie-talkies.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
This free service helps U.S. citizens and nationals to enroll their trip with a nearby U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It’s available to those living or traveling abroad and will help family and friends get in contact in an emergency. This is recommended by the State Department in any foreign travel situation. Click here for a link.
Share your story
Do you have loved ones in Mexico who are impacted by the earthquake? Share your story with us by emailing share@kesq.com or calling the newsroom: 760-773-3333.
Be ready for an earthquake. See our special section for full coverage: Earthquake Alert.
Stay with KESQ News Channel 3, CBS Local 2, and Kuna Noticias for updates on this breaking news.
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Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
