Photos: In quake-torn Mexico, this amputee volunteers to clear debris | Hindustan Times
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Photos: In quake-torn Mexico, this amputee volunteers to clear debris

Updated On Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

A week to the day, Mexico was jolted by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, wreaking havoc across multiple cities and raising tsunami alarms. Hector Rodarte Cedillo, a 27-year-old amputee, window washer and candy salesman, has tirelessly been engaged in relief and rescue efforts in his hometown Jojutla ever since.

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Hector Rodarte Cedillo, a 27-year-old window washer and candy salesman, lost his right leg below the knee seven years ago when a car ran him over. That hasn’t stopped him from toiling long hours in a brigade of civilian volunteers searching for survivors, aiding the injured and clearing the rubble of buildings that collapsed in Jojutla during last week’s deadly earthquake. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Hector Rodarte Cedillo, a 27-year-old window washer and candy salesman, lost his right leg below the knee seven years ago when a car ran him over. That hasn’t stopped him from toiling long hours in a brigade of civilian volunteers searching for survivors, aiding the injured and clearing the rubble of buildings that collapsed in Jojutla during last week’s deadly earthquake. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Hector Rodarte (2nd R), helps salvage personal items from a neighbor’s home, destroyed in a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, in Jojutla, Mexico. Rodarte says helping others ‘is something that is born from the bottom of my heart.’ Jojutla, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of the Mexican capital, is one of the places hit hardest by the September 19 quake, which killed at least 326 people. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Hector Rodarte (2nd R), helps salvage personal items from a neighbor’s home, destroyed in a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, in Jojutla, Mexico. Rodarte says helping others ‘is something that is born from the bottom of my heart.’ Jojutla, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of the Mexican capital, is one of the places hit hardest by the September 19 quake, which killed at least 326 people. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Rodarte and the other members of the ‘9th Brigade’ roam the streets helping residents retrieve family photos and other belongings from damaged homes on the verge of imploding altogether. He works all day, only pausing at night to sleep. Hundreds of homes in Jojutla lie in ruins, and many more are damaged beyond repair and slated for demolition. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Rodarte and the other members of the ‘9th Brigade’ roam the streets helping residents retrieve family photos and other belongings from damaged homes on the verge of imploding altogether. He works all day, only pausing at night to sleep. Hundreds of homes in Jojutla lie in ruins, and many more are damaged beyond repair and slated for demolition. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Mexico will search another three days beneath the rubble for possible survivors of the September 19 quake even though it is unlikely rescuers will find anyone alive, the country’s chief of emergency services said on Monday. ‘I can say that at this time it would be unlikely to find someone alive,’ Luis Felipe Puente said in an interview, referring to 43 missing people being sought at four disaster sites in Mexico City. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Mexico will search another three days beneath the rubble for possible survivors of the September 19 quake even though it is unlikely rescuers will find anyone alive, the country’s chief of emergency services said on Monday. ‘I can say that at this time it would be unlikely to find someone alive,’ Luis Felipe Puente said in an interview, referring to 43 missing people being sought at four disaster sites in Mexico City. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Rodarte leans his crutches against a white Volkswagen Beetle before he puts his heavily tattooed arms to work lifting and tossing bricks and twisted metal. Clad in a neon orange vest, a white construction helmet and dirty jeans, he keeps his balance by bracing the stump of his leg on pieces of debris. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Rodarte leans his crutches against a white Volkswagen Beetle before he puts his heavily tattooed arms to work lifting and tossing bricks and twisted metal. Clad in a neon orange vest, a white construction helmet and dirty jeans, he keeps his balance by bracing the stump of his leg on pieces of debris. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Hector Rodarte helps to salvage furniture from a neighbor's home, destroyed in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted Mexico last week. About 10% of the nearly 11,000 damaged buildings were constructed after strict building codes were enacted in the wake of the devastating 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 10,000 people, Puente said, leading officials on Monday to instruct prosecutors to open investigations. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Hector Rodarte helps to salvage furniture from a neighbor's home, destroyed in the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted Mexico last week. About 10% of the nearly 11,000 damaged buildings were constructed after strict building codes were enacted in the wake of the devastating 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 10,000 people, Puente said, leading officials on Monday to instruct prosecutors to open investigations. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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The largest rescue efforts following the quake are underway at an office building in the Roma section of Mexico City where 40 people may be buried, based on families who have reported relatives missing. Asked on Monday how much longer search and rescue operations would continue, Punete said, ‘As of today, we have agreed to another 72 hours.’ Dogs trained to pick up the scent of survivors have yet to find any signs of life at the search sites, he said. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

The largest rescue efforts following the quake are underway at an office building in the Roma section of Mexico City where 40 people may be buried, based on families who have reported relatives missing. Asked on Monday how much longer search and rescue operations would continue, Punete said, ‘As of today, we have agreed to another 72 hours.’ Dogs trained to pick up the scent of survivors have yet to find any signs of life at the search sites, he said. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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Hector Rodarte takes a break as he helps in rescue and relief efforts, in Jojutla, Morelos state, Mexico. ‘We will be here lending a hand until we are finished, until Jojutla recovers,’ Rodarte said. (Miguel Tovar / AP) expand-icon View Photos in a new improved layout
Updated on Sep 26, 2017 11:41 AM IST

Hector Rodarte takes a break as he helps in rescue and relief efforts, in Jojutla, Morelos state, Mexico. ‘We will be here lending a hand until we are finished, until Jojutla recovers,’ Rodarte said. (Miguel Tovar / AP)

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