Campus Alert Archive
ASU

ASU Student at Tecnologico de Monterrey Mexico City Survived Quake That Killed Five at the University

AZearthquakeadvisorymedium confidence
Confirmed Threat

On September 19, 2017, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck central Mexico, killing more than 360 people, including five at Tecnologico de Monterrey Ciudad de Mexico where an ASU student was studying abroad. ASU Study Abroad activated its emergency communication plan and the student's adviser made daily contact in the days after the quake. Unlike some programs, ASU allowed the student to choose whether to remain in Mexico City or return home.

Alerts
2
Response
—
Killed
0
Injured
0
Institution
Arizona State University
Public R1 · AZ
ASU Study Abroad Emergency Response
Confirmed Timeline

Alert Sequence

2 messages in sequence

Some alert texts below are approximate reconstructions from news coverage, not confirmed verbatim transcripts. Reconstructed texts are shown in italic with a dashed border. Verified verbatim texts have a solid border and are marked accordingly.

INITIAL ALERTEmail
Approximate reconstruction536 chars
ASU Study Abroad is aware of the major earthquake that struck central Mexico today. We are activating our emergency communication plan and are working to contact all ASU students currently studying in Mexico. If you are an ASU student in Mexico, please contact your study abroad adviser immediately to confirm your safety. In case of emergency, contact ASU Police. Students may also contact the nearest U.S. Embassy. Our security intelligence services are providing frequent updates and we will share guidance as the situation develops.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

Reconstructed from Arizona State Press April 2018 feature on natural disasters and study abroad; ASU's associate director of international health, safety and security described ASU's 'robust active emergency and communication plan that includes evacuation assistance and security intelligence services.'
The September 19, 2017 earthquake (magnitude 7.1, also called the 2017 Puebla earthquake) struck on the 32nd anniversary of the devastating 1985 Mexico City earthquake, during a national earthquake drill, creating initial confusion.
Five people were killed at Tecnologico de Monterrey Ciudad de Mexico where the ASU student was enrolled; the student was in a classroom reviewing a presentation when the earthquake hit.
FOLLOW-UPEmail
Approximate reconstruction452 chars
We have been in contact with our ASU students studying in Mexico City following Tuesday's earthquake. All have been accounted for. We are providing daily check-ins with each student and have connected them with ASU counseling services. Students who wish to return to the United States may do so with full academic support. We understand this is an extremely difficult time and we are committed to supporting each student in whatever decision they make.

This text has been reconstructed from news coverage and may not reflect the exact original wording.

ASU took a notably student-centered approach: unlike the University of Texas, which forced its students to transfer or return home, ASU allowed students to choose whether to remain in Mexico City.
The ASU student ultimately chose to stay in Mexico City; their adviser helped sort through session B class options and connected them with counseling services to address personal and academic disruption.
Dan Hart, ASU's associate director of international health, safety and security, told the Arizona State Press that ASU's security intelligence services provided 'frequent updates' throughout the crisis.
Context

Background

The 2017 Puebla earthquake struck on September 19, 2017 at 1:14 PM local time, killing at least 370 people across central Mexico. Five people died at Tecnologico de Monterrey's Mexico City campus, where an Arizona State University exchange student was studying. The Arizona State Press reported in April 2018 that ASU Study Abroad activated its emergency communication plan immediately after the earthquake, with the student's adviser making daily contact and connecting the student with counseling services. ASU's response differed from some peer institutions in offering students a genuine choice: while the University of Texas required its students to transfer or return home, ASU's protocol was to support whatever decision each student made. ISEP Study Abroad's September 2017 advisory noted that at approximately 2:15 PM EST on the day of the earthquake, students studying at UPAEP University in Puebla were instructed to check in. The earthquake struck on the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake and coincided with a scheduled national earthquake drill, creating additional confusion in the immediate aftermath.
Outcome
ASU student remained in Mexico City; daily contact maintained with ASU study abroad adviser; student connected with counseling services; five people killed at host university Tecnologico de Monterrey.
Provenance

Sources

  1. Student Paper
    An ASU student's perspective on Mexico City's deadly earthquake - Arizona State Press
    statepress.com
  2. Source
    September 19, 2017: Earthquake in Central Mexico Reported - ISEP Study Abroad
    isepstudyabroad.org
  3. Source
    2017 Puebla earthquake - Wikipedia
    en.wikipedia.org
Tags
study-abroadmexicoearthquakeinternationaladvisorymexico-city2017
Added June 2026Updated June 2026Via ingestion