Earthquake not expected to badly affect BC economic stake in Mexico

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Business between British Columbia and Mexico probably won’t suffer economically after the powerful earthquake in the central part of that country.

That’s according to the president of the Mexican Business Association of Canada in Vancouver, who says he’s more worried about the impact the powerful earthquake is having on people, than companies.

Manuel Otero says most of the big business that BC has with Mexico is in mining, with multi-billion dollar companies such as Goldcorp, First Majestic, and Silver Mex.

“Mexico is going to suffer, the city, economically, hugely,” he says. “Many people probably lost their homes and apartment buildings et cetera, that’s going to be the major catastrophe.”

He says much of Mexico City was built on a dried-up lake and the soil is still very wet, which amplifies the shakes.

“It’s like Richmond,” he explains. “Imagine in Richmond, if there was an earthquake, it’s not solid ground, so that’s the major problem.”

He’s encouraging people to donate through Mexico’s consulate in Vancouver and its website and adds that his family and friends are fine, but scared.

“I have a friend that works here in Vancouver, he was down there for business, now he’s moved from the 18th floor of a hotel to a hotel with one floor, I said that was the right move,” he says.

It’s a disaster he can relate to, having lived through the deadly 1985 earthquake.

“Imagine, the whole building moving 10 feet one way, 10 feet the other, I fell down, we were screaming in the house,” he recalls.

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