EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE, MEXICO CITY, SEPTEMBER 19, 1985

Aerial View of Top Failure, Central Communications Center

Aerial view of top failure of Central Communications Center. The twelve-story reinforced concrete structure housed the Ministry of Communications and Transport and the nation's main microwave transmitter. Failure of this structure precipitated a near total collapse of long-distance communications between Mexico City and the rest of the world and complicated the coordination of international rescue efforts. Photograph credit: C. Arnold, Building Systems Development, Inc.