373 cultural buildings damaged: INAH

The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) informed yesterday that until now 373 cultural buildings have been reported damaged after the 7.1 earthquake which shook the central area of Mexico.

This number – which will be updated as the surveys continue – includes historic buildings, museums and archeological areas of the states of Morelos , Puebla , Guerrero , Tlaxcala , the State of Mexico , and Mexico City .

According to an interview with Arturo Balandrano , National Coordinator of Historic Monuments of the INAH, the breakdown is as follows: 351 historic buildings (churches and monasteries in its majority), 14 museums, and 8 archeological areas.

Among the historic buildings damaged are the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City – whose famous Statue of Hope fell from the main facade –, the archeological area of the Cerro de la Estrella (Hill of the Star), the chapel of Corpus Christi and the temple of Saint Sebastian, the last two in the state of Puebla.

“Our teams are currently surveying Xochimilco, Milpa Alta, Coyoacán, and Azcapotzalco, which also have cultural buildings,” said Mr. Balandrano.

He further claimed that all the buildings can be restored, reason why no building should be demolished.

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