Mexico City, October 5 (RHC)-- Mexico has launched a Scientific Committee for the Reconstruction and Future of Mexico City to investigate the conditions of the buildings in the city in the aftermath of the devastating September 19th earthquake.  The committee will investigate the strength and aptitude of the buildings to face natural disasters such as earthquakes after nearly 360 people lost their lives in the 7.1-magnitude earthquake. 

The mayor of Mexico City, Miguel Angel Mancera, and other government authorities have backed the move, which was launched by a group of educational institutions.  The head of the Autonomous National University of Mexico, Enrique Graue Wiechers, said the reconstruction should be done to ensure Mexico City return to its previous state and is instead "a habitable and sustainable city." 

Wiechers said the areas near the lakes at the basin of Mexico are the worst impacted by the earthquake. He added that the city would need to rethink its construction regulations, limit building new infrastructures and modify the current construction regulations. As part of the changes, the city should also liberate spaces and make changes to the transportation model and water consumption, Weichers said. 

The committee is formed by a few Mexico City-based institutes and universities, Metropolitan Autónoma, the School of Mexico and the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico, among other institutions who are also supporting the construction of a safer city.