11 family members die during baptism in Mexico earthquake

Eleven members of a family tragically died during a baby’s baptism when the roof of a church collapsed during the powerful earthquake that shook central Mexico on Tuesday. 

The Achdiocese of Puebla said the only survivors were the two-month-old girl’s father, the priest and the priest’s assistant inside Santiago the Apostle Catholic Church, which is located in the isolated town of Atzala in the Puebla state. 

He added that at least four minors were among the dead, including the two-month-old baby girl that was being christened inside the colonial-style church. 

‘It was a scene of horror, sadness with most of the people inside the church dying,’ priest’s assistant Lorenzo Sanchez told The Associated Press.

He said that those who were able to survive moved to the edges inside of the church when the building began to sway. Those who were killed didn’t have time to do so.  

Tragic: Eleven members of a family tragically died during a baby’s baptism when the roof of Santiago the Apostle Catholic Church collapsed during the powerful earthquake that shook central Mexico on Tuesday. Their relatives held a wake for them on Wednesday night (above)

The Achdiocese of Puebla said the only survivors were the two-month-old girl's father, the priest and the priest's assistant inside Santiago the Apostle Catholic Church, which is located in the isolated town of Atzala. Above people carry a coffin during the wake Wednesday

The Achdiocese of Puebla said the only survivors were the two-month-old girl’s father, the priest and the priest’s assistant inside Santiago the Apostle Catholic Church, which is located in the isolated town of Atzala. Above people carry a coffin during the wake Wednesday

He added that at least four minors were among the dead, including the two-month-old baby girl that was being christened inside the colonial-style church. Above people carry a coffin during the wake Wednesday

He added that at least four minors were among the dead, including the two-month-old baby girl that was being christened inside the colonial-style church. Above people carry a coffin during the wake Wednesday

The priest's assistant Lorenzo Sanchez said those who were able to survive moved to the edges inside of the church (above after the quake) when the building began to sway. Those who were killed didn't have time to do so

The priest’s assistant Lorenzo Sanchez said those who were able to survive moved to the edges inside of the church (above after the quake) when the building began to sway. Those who were killed didn’t have time to do so

‘One of the things they taught us is to stick to the firm walls of our church, which is old and its structure a bit deteriorated,’ Sanchez said.

When the ground stopped shaking, people called for help using loudspeakers and residents of nearby communities quickly arrived in Atzala with shovels, pickaxes and chains to haul away rubble.

They dug for hours through the crumbling remains of the Santiago Apostol church but found the 11 relatives had tragically died.

Two-month-old Elideth Torres de Leon, who was to be baptized; her sister, Maria, 8; and the girls’ mother, Manuela de Leon Garcia, 27, are among the victims.

Covered in dust and exhausted, the rescuers laid the bodies out on the same street where a party was meant to be held after the baptism of the baby girl. 

Two-month-old Elideth Torres de Leon, who was to be baptized; her sister, Maria, 8; and the girls' mother, Manuela de Leon Garcia, 27, are among the victims who died inside of the church (above after the quake)

Two-month-old Elideth Torres de Leon, who was to be baptized; her sister, Maria, 8; and the girls’ mother, Manuela de Leon Garcia, 27, are among the victims who died inside of the church (above after the quake)

The damage inside of the church is significant after the powerful earthquake on Tuesday that killed 11 people inside of it. Above part of the ceiling is pictured after the quake

The damage inside of the church is significant after the powerful earthquake on Tuesday that killed 11 people inside of it. Above part of the ceiling is pictured after the quake

They covered them with canvas to protect them from the rain.

Family members of the dead traveled overnight from other states to attend Wednesday’s wake in Puebla, the state capital where mourners said a final goodbye to their loved ones.

Each coffin had a name attached: Florencio, Fidela, Aurelia, Manuela, Maria de Jesus, Carmen, Samuel, Azucena, Feliciana, Susana and Elideth – the girl who was to be baptized.

A relative who lost numerous family members in the tragedy said he was ‘shattered’. 

‘I am in profound pain. I am shattered,’ Graciano Villanueva Perez, 73, who lost six relatives — his wife, sister, daughter, son-in-law and two grandchildren, all of whom were attending the baptism, told The Los Angeles Times. 

‘I don’t know what to say,’ he added.

The town of Atzala, which has a population of about 1,200 and is mainly agriculture based, lies just 20 miles from the epicenter of the horrific quake. Above people walk towards the Santiago Apostol church after the quake

The town of Atzala, which has a population of about 1,200 and is mainly agriculture based, lies just 20 miles from the epicenter of the horrific quake. Above people walk towards the Santiago Apostol church after the quake

At the time of the quake, he was at home resting.

The elderly man’s relative, Facundo Flores Nolasco, 42, also lost six loved ones: his wife, mother, brother, daughter-in-law, a niece and a nephew. He was returning from the fields on a bike when the earthquake hit. 

‘I’ve been through other earthquakes, but never this strong,’ Flores told the Times. ‘We had to get down from the bikes and wait for the shaking to end.’

The town of Atzala, which has a population of about 1,200 and is mainly agriculture based, lies just 20 miles from the epicenter of the horrific quake. 

Tuesday’s magnitude 7.1 quake was centered in Puebla state, where it killed more than 40 people. Across Mexico it killed more than 248 people.

In Mexico City, rescue efforts continued Wednesday at a primary and secondary school where 25 bodies had been found and a young girl was located alive amid the rubble.

Workers searched through the rubble for surviving students and adults at the Enrique Rebsamen school late Wednesday night

Workers searched through the rubble for surviving students and adults at the Enrique Rebsamen school late Wednesday night

At least 248 people have been killed including 21 children who died after the school building collapsed (above after the quake on Wednesday night)

At least 248 people have been killed including 21 children who died after the school building collapsed (above after the quake on Wednesday night)

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