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Mexico bars quake-collapsed school in capital from operating

Investigative police officers inspect a part of the Enrique Rebsamen school that collapsed during last week's 7.1 magnitude quake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. Borough president Claudia Sheinbaum says inspectors warned the borough’s judicial director in November 2013 that work on the third floor of the school and an illegally added fourth floor were “damaging structural elements that affect the stability of the building.” (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) Investigative police officers inspect a part of the Enrique Rebsamen school that collapsed during last week's 7.1 magnitude quake in Mexico City, Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2017. Borough president Claudia Sheinbaum says inspectors warned the borough’s judicial director in November 2013 that work on the third floor of the school and an illegally added fourth floor were “damaging structural elements that affect the stability of the building.” (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

By Associated Press October 2, 2017 1 min read

MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico’s Education Department says authorities have revoked the permits of an elementary and middle school that collapsed in the recent magnitude 7.1 earthquake, killing 26 people.

The department says in a statement that the Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City will be prohibited from operating. The privately run school has been closed since the Sept. 19 quake.

Prosecutors are investigating its owner. Complaints have also been filed against government officials who allegedly ignored warnings about unauthorized construction at the school that may have been responsible for its collapse.

The agency offered Sunday to help families place their children in other schools. Nineteen children and seven adults died at Enrique Rebsamen.

At least 361 people were killed by the earthquake, including 220 in Mexico City.