Earthquake aftershocks have led officials in the Imperial Valley border town of Calexico to expand the area of the downtown business district that has been closed since Sunday’s magnitude 7.2 quake.
After a 5.5 temblor Thursday, a roof collapsed on one building and more businesses suffered broken windows and cracked walls. City officials had hoped to reopen many of the businesses this weekend but that plan is now on indefinite hold.
More buildings have been "red-tagged" until structural engineers can do inspections to see if they can be repaired or must be razed. Also, homes in the older part of the city have also been ruled off-limits.
"Things have gotten worse," said Hildy Carrillo, executive director of the Calexico Chamber of Commerce. "Roofs and walls that were hanging by a thread after Sunday are coming down."
Also, a broken sewer line is dumping sewage into the already smelly New River, which flows from Mexico into the Salton Sea. A crew is working to repair the line, estimated to cost $1.5 million. Health officials have said the spillage poses no health threat if people stay away from the river.
The city’s 30,000-plus residents have also been asked to reduce their water usage while repairs are being made to the city’s purification system.
An elementary school has been declared unsafe for staff and children. The historic De Anza Hotel, which has been converted in recent years to provide housing for low-income senior citizens, also remains closed while engineers inspect the damage.
Federal Emergency Management Administration officials are due in Calexico next week.
A parade of elected officials, including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, have come to Calexico to survey the damage and promise help. The governor signed an executive order to speed the delivery of financial support for people whose homes or businesses were damaged.
Calexico has been the hardest hit section of Imperial Valley by the earthquakes whose epicenters are south of Mexicali, the sprawling Mexican city directly across the international border from Calexico.
— Tony Perry in San Diego
Photo: Merchandise is scattered throughout a Calexico shoe store after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked the area. Credit: Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times