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A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 7 January 2020
5.8-magnitude quake strikes Puerto Rico, damaging homes

By DANICA COTO tired to Guánica two years
Associated Press ago to live in the home he
GUÁNICA, Puerto Rico (AP) spent 15 years building. He
— A 5.8-magnitude quake doesn't have insurance.
hit Puerto Rico before In this working class neigh-
dawn Monday, unleash- borhood, people shared
ing small landslides, caus- soda and snacks as they
ing power outages and sought shelter from a harsh
severely cracking some sun, careful to stay away
homes. It was one of the from homes whose col-
strongest quakes yet to hit umns and foundations
the U.S. territory that has were heavily cracked.
been shaking for the past Many already had bags
week. packed in their cars with a
There were no immediate change of clothes, food,
reports of casualties. water and medicine.
The quake was followed by Some like Noelia De Jesús,
a string of smaller temblors, 69, and her husband, who
including another quake uses a wheelchair, didn't
measured at magnitude 5 know where they would
that struck later Monday, spend the night. Govern-
at 10:51 a.m. (1451 GMT), Residents survey damage where a home partially collapsed after an earthquake hit Guanica, ment officials who inspect-
shaking power lines and Puerto Rico, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. ed their home earlier in the
frightening residents of Associated Press morning said it was unsafe
southern Puerto Rico who to live in and advised them
had been waiting outside director for the southern but José Quiñones, 54, had dríguez, 43, whose home to stay elsewhere.
their homes due to fears coastal city of Ponce, told no choice. His 80-year-old collapsed on its side as the "Everything broke, includ-
the buildings were dam- The Associated Press. mother had heart prob- smell of gas filled the air. ing the TV," she said. "This is
aged and unstable. "This is one of the stron- lems and was lying in bed. "We haven't slept... you horrible."
The first quake struck at 6:32 gest quakes to date since Dozens of people in a can't remain calm here. Puerto Rico doesn't have
a.m. (1032 GMT) just south it started shaking on Dec. neighborhood called Hope Guánica is no longer a safe a public earthquake warn-
of the island at a relatively 28," he said. "It lasted a long in the southwest town of place." ing system, except for sirens
shallow depth of 10 kilo- time." Guánica walked around Less than a block away, that are supposed to ring
meters (6 miles), according Helicopters buzzed over- with their phones and yelled Silvestre Alicea surveyed in case of a tsunami. Resi-
to the U.S. Geological Ser- head as terrified residents out the magnitude of the his home whose founda- dents in this neighborhood
vice. There was no tsunami jumped up from their fold- latest earthquakes as they tion collapsed on his bright criticized the government
threat, officials said. ing chairs every time the tried to calm children who blue 1977 Toyota Corolla, a for what they believe is a
Power outages were re- earth shook, yelling at oth- were forced to open their prized possession. lack of action.
ported in some parts of ers to stay away from pow- presents on Three Kings He jumped from his balco- Dr. Sindia Alvarado, who
Puerto Rico following the er lines. Day, a religious holiday, on ny as the home collapsed. lives in the southern coastal
quake, Angel Vazquez, Few people dared go streets and sidewalks. Alicea had lived in New town of Penuelas, said she
emergency management back inside their homes, "This is hell," said Alberto Ro- York for years until he re- was petrified.q

Women perform in favor of abortion before Mexican cathedral

City and the southern state since the performance The performance took
of Oaxaca, where the pro- took place on the eve of place in a small plaza in
cedure is allowed up to 12 the Three Kings' holiday front of the Metropolitan
weeks of gestation. — when children in Latin Cathedral of the Assump-
To the sound of a metal America receive gifts pur- tion of the Most Blessed
spoon clanking against an portedly from the wise men Virgin Mary into Heavens,
iron frying pan, the women who bestowed myrrh, gold, which is also the seat of the
performed a variation of and frankincense on baby Catholic Archdiocese of
"A Rapist in Your Path" — Jesus. Mexico.
the viral dance sequence Performer Perla Rosales, "We wanted to do it there
concocted by the Chilean 25, said she aborted three to single out the church,
feminist collective La Tesis years ago because she felt the structure as such and
to protest violence against she wasn't ready to be a religion in general, as at
women. The moves are the mother. fault for our oppression,"
same, but the words have "I would love to be a said Fanny González, 26,
Women participate in a performance in support of abortion changed; in this version, mom, I love children, but who accompanies women
rights next to the cathedral in Mexico City, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. an "objector" stands in their as I want to decide when, to abortions.
Associated Press path. how, where, why I am go- Surveys by pollster Mitof-
"The patriarchy is a judge ing to be a mom — I want sky show that a slight ma-
By AMY GUTHRIE square on Sunday to call that judges us for living, all the other women to do jority of Mexicans believe
Associated Press for legal and safe abortions and our punishment is to the same," she said. "At all women in the country
MEXICO CITY (AP) — A doz- throughout Mexico. force us to give birth," the this moment I don't want a should be allowed to abort.
en women wearing green Abortion is highly restricted women sang while tapping child. I don't have the eco- Some states only allow
scarves lined up in front in the country of 120 million their heels on the ground. nomic possibilities, nor the abortions in cases of rape
the Metropolitan Cathe- inhabitants, with the excep- The group dubbed them- time, nor the desire to be a or when the mother's life is
dral in Mexico City's central tion of the capital Mexico selves Aborting Queens, mom." in danger.q