Mexico City: 2 detained in connection with quake damage

Mexico City authorities have detained two people involved in construction of a building that was severely damaged in the Sept. 19 earthquake.

City prosecutor Edmundo Garrido says the two did not comply with code and deviated from construction plans.

Prosecutors contend that the director of the project and the person responsible for structural integrity have “criminal liability.” The suspects were not identified.

Another person was detained in late October in connection with the same building and charged with criminal negligence.

The building was just a year old, but had damage to 90 per cent of its structure. Garrido said Thursday that 10 fraud complaints have been filed by residents there.

The magnitude 7.1 quake killed 369 people, including 228 in the capital, where 38 buildings collapsed and thousands more were damaged.

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This story has been corrected to show that the building was severely damaged, not partially collapsed.