This story is part of a broader investigation into the aftermath of the September 19, 1985 earthquake in downtown Mexico City.
The Súper Leche diner was part of Mexico City's gastronomic culture, but what happened there also helps to better understand the earthquake's long-lasting effects.
By Roxana Rodríguez Bravo
Among the many buildings that the September 19, 1985 earthquake and its aftershocks destroyed, there is one that, in more ways than one, remains alive in the collective memory of the country's capital: the Ana Mier Escandón Building, which housed the Súper Leche Restaurant on its ground floor.
This story is part of a broader investigation into mortality during the September 19, 1985 earthquake in Mexico City. As part of this research, more than four thousand death certificates have been reviewed. These documents have been grouped according to the damaged and/or collapsed buildings where hundreds of people lost their lives. The purpose is to rescue the memory of these individuals and draw conclusions about the social, economic, and political consequences of the earthquake.
The Escandón was a four-story building with commercial spaces on the ground floor. It occupied the corner of 41 San Juan de Letrán Avenue (today Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas) and Victoria Street, which becomes República de Uruguay Street upon crossing Eje Central. It was an Art Deco-style structure named after Ana Mier Escandón, an early 20th-century Mexican philanthropist.
It was built in the early 1940s. In addition to the families living in several of its apartments, rooms on the roof were also rented out. The gas tank area was located at the top of the building, which caused a fire to break out during the earthquake, in addition to the total collapse of the property.
In 1949, Manuel Fernández Gutiérrez was a Spaniard who had recently arrived in Mexico. He opened a coffee shop named “La Taza de Leche,” literally "The cup of milk," distinguished by its Spanish-style menu and famous for its pancakes and café con leche. Later on, several female workers from a Teléfonos de México central office on Victoria Street became regular customers. From childhood, Fernández's son, Víctor Manuel Fernández Fagoaga, helped serve customers and manage his father's business. By the 1970s, the establishment changed its name to Súper Leche (literally Super Milk), and following his father's death, Víctor Manuel took over its management.
On the morning of September 19, 1985, when the earthquake struck, Víctor Manuel Fernández was not at the Súper Leche because he routinely went running every day in Chapultepec Park. While there, he heard rumors that something had happened in the city after the quake. He headed to his home in Lomas de Chapultepec, where he received a phone call warning him of trouble at his business. He went to the Ana Mier Escandón Building. Upon arriving and witnessing the collapse of the structure, he was intercepted by journalist Jacobo Zabludovsky, who was touring the affected areas. Fernández expressed his deep distress, explaining that besides housing his coffee shop, his mother, sister, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, and other relatives lived in the building.
At that moment, his intention was to enter the property to search for his loved ones, but he was stopped first by Zabludovsky and then by bystanders who warned him of a high risk of a gas explosion. All of this was broadcast live by Televisa, as Zabludovsky had a phone in his car and was later joined by a cameraman for the transmission.
In 2005, Zabludovsky interviewed Fernández Fagoaga again regarding the 1985 earthquake on his radio newscast De una a tres on Grupo Radio Centro. On that occasion, the former owner of Súper Leche provided further details about the building collapse, noting that the earthquake caused a severe structural sinking that led to its collapse.
He added that gas tanks from the apartments triggered a fire, which resulted in many bodies being incinerated—including several members of his family—and never found. Rescue and recovery efforts were extremely difficult; a search dog brought to Mexico with an Israeli rescue group even died in the rubble. In total, Fernández lost nine family members, many of whose remains were never recovered. A rumor circulated that his nine-year-old niece had been rescued alive and subsequently abducted; however, this was never proven.
When the earthquake occurred, 98 people were working at the Súper Leche, six of whom died. Relatives of some of these employees pursued legal action against Fernández, and after two years, he had to compensate several of them. Another notable fact is that at the moment of the earthquake, two trolleybuses were passing along San Juan de Letrán Avenue. Rather than remaining inside the vehicles, passengers got off and entered the coffee shop for shelter, where they perished. As with many other buildings, official search efforts for bodies were called off in the final days of September or early October, leaving many victims to be identified later through photographic records kept at police stations and the Public Prosecutor's office.
Following the earthquake, a garden named Ruiz Cortines was established on the site. Today, the location features a three-story commercial plaza and an entrance to the San Juan de Letrán Metro station.
Below is a list of the families and individuals who died at this site, presented to preserve their memory. This represents previously unpublished work resulting from the review of death certificates in open-access repositories, combined with oral testimonies and news archives.
Arriaga Maldonado Family
Librada Maldonado (approximately 35 years old) and Gabriela Viridiana Arriaga Maldonado (also approximately 35 years old) died in this building from multiple traumas, according to their death certificates issued on September 23. These certificates lack several details, such as precise age and place of birth. The deaths were certified by individuals with no family relation, and their remains were taken to the UNAM Faculty of Medicine.
Ayala Cárdenas Family
Employee Clara Elvia Cárdenas Aparicio (45 years old), a native of the Port of Veracruz, died in this building alongside her daughter, Elizabeth Ayala Cárdenas (11 years old), born in the Federal District. As in many other cases from this building, their bodies were never found.
Consequently, their death certificates were not issued until April 1986. Clara Elvia's brothers certified the deaths and presented witnesses who confirmed that the mother and daughter resided there. A neighbor who survived the collapse because he was not in the building recounted that on the morning of September 19, Clara Elvia was going to receive an injection from a woman living on the fifth floor, and by 7:00 AM she returned to her apartment on another floor to take her daughter to school.
The cause of death was recorded as "disaster of September 19," accompanied by the notation "without body." No death certificate was found for Clara's husband and the girl's father, Moisés Ayala.
Cruz and Roque Peto Families
Santa Soledad Peto Rodríguez (38 years old), a native of Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, died in this building alongside her children Feliciano Cruz Peto (15 years old), born in Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and Verónica Soledad Cruz Peto (13 years old), born in her mother's birthplace. Santa's sister, Margarita Peto Rodríguez (30 years old), also born in Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, died in the building as well, along with her children Fabiola (8 years old) and Rocío (12 years old) Roque Peto, both born in what was then the Federal District.
Siblings of Margarita and Santa Soledad Peto identified the bodies of Santa, her children, and Fabiola through photographs at Public Prosecutor Agency No. 10, as their physical remains were not located. The only bodies recovered were those of Santa Soledad and her niece Rocío, who were buried in a mass grave at the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery. The death certificates for the remaining family members were issued on December 10, 1985, listing the cause of death as "disaster of September 19" with the notation "without body."
Adolfo Rodríguez Sánchez (53 years old), a merchant from Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, who also died in this building, may have been related to the individuals above, as he shared the surname Rodríguez and the same place of origin. His body was not located, and his death certificate was issued on October 22, 33 days after the earthquake. The cause of death was recorded as "earthquake of September 19" with the notation "without body." The paperwork was handled by his wife and son.
Díaz Family
Súper Leche employees Santos Melchor Díaz and Alfonso Díaz Coria, likely uncle and nephew, died inside the establishment. Santos, who worked as a busboy at the restaurant, was 35 years old and originally from Las Cruces, Michoacán. Alfonso, 52 years old, was a stockroom worker at the venue and was born in Morelia, Michoacán.
The death certificate for Santos was issued on October 5, while Alfonso's was issued on October 7. The cause of death was listed as multiple traumas in both cases, certified by Santos's mother, Alfonso's wife, and cousins of both men. Their remains were taken to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery.
Fernández Fagoaga Alea Family
The family of Víctor Manuel Fernández, owner of the Súper Leche, died in this building, where they occupied two apartments on the second floor. Ofelia Fagoaga, widow of Fernández, a 67-year-old homemaker from Oaxaca, Oaxaca, was Víctor Manuel's mother. Her remains were found on September 21, identified by her son by a gold ID bracelet she wore; her hands were burned.
Her death certificate bears that date and lists multiple traumas due to the September 19 disaster as the cause of death. Funeral home personnel certified the death, and her remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Víctor Manuel's sister, María Virtudes del Rocío Fernández Fagoaga (a 39-year-old homemaker born in the Federal District), also died in the building, along with her husband, merchant Pedro Alea Dosal. The latter was 44 years old and born in Píe de la Sierra, Asturias, Spain.
Their children, Covadonga del Rocío (11 years old) and Manuel Ramón Alea Fernández (8 years old), both born in the Federal District, also perished. The family had moved to the Federal District from Spain just a couple of weeks prior.
The bodies of these four individuals were not recovered. Their death certificates, issued on December 26, 1985, include the note “without body” and list the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.” Víctor Manuel Fernández handled the processing of these documents.
Although a death certificate was issued for Covadonga, some testimonies suggest the girl may have survived and been abducted. This theory stems from a photograph depicting a minor being rescued from the rubble. Manuel and other relatives even traveled to search for her in San Luis Potosí, where her alleged captors lived.
García García Family
Sisters Élida (29 years old) and María de la Soledad García García (23 years old) died in this building, where they lived in a second-floor apartment with their mother. Élida was an employee and María de la Soledad was a student. Their death certificates were issued on October 5, 36 days after the earthquake. Their mother and cousins certified the deaths, and their remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
García Zamudio Family
José Guadalupe Bernardo García Muñoz (30 years old), born in the Federal District, died in this building along with members of his family: his children, Christian Oscar (4 years old) and Mareza Sharon (2 years old) García Zamudio, both born in the same location as their father. His presumed sister-in-law, Laura García Rodríguez, a 33-year-old federal employee born in Huamantla, Tlaxcala, also perished.
Their death certificates were issued on September 24, five days after the earthquake. However, clarification notes dated October 1987 were later attached to the documents, indicating that the location of death was Eje Central 41 rather than Tonalá Street 61 as originally recorded. The cause of death was listed as consequences of the earthquake.
The deaths were certified by individuals without family relation, and their bodies were apparently taken to federal government mortuary facilities, those associated to the so-called ISSSTE. The father and his children were taken to Los Cipreses Cemetery, while Laura García's body was transferred to the cemetery in Huamantla, Tlaxcala. The amended certificate notes that José Guadalupe was married to María Guadalupe Zamudio, but no death certificate was found for her.
Garma Sánchez Family
Dentist Rolando Garma Durán (37 years old), born in the Federal District, maintained an office in this building where he also lived with his wife, teacher Noemí Sánchez Concepción (34 years old, born in the Federal District), and their one-year-old son, Eliezer Rolando Garma Sánchez. All three died during the earthquake, and their bodies were not found. Consequently, their death certificates, issued on October 23, 1985, bear the note “without body” and list the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.” The paperwork was handled by Rolando Garma's sister and father; according to accounts, his father collapsed upon reaching the site of the disaster.
González García Family
Romana García de González (37 years old), a native of Acolman, State of Mexico, died in this building along with her children: Silvia (19 years old), Joaquina (17 years old), Guadalupe (11 years old), Jorge (9 years old), and Virginia del Rocío (6 months old) González García. She was identified as a homemaker.
The death certificates for this family were issued on September 26, listing the cause of death for each member as multiple traumas. Romana's husband and the father of the children certified the deaths. Their remains were taken to the Santa María Acolman Cemetery in the State of Mexico.
Luna Rocha Family
Married couple Juana Luna Montealegre and Vicente Rocha Jiménez died in this building. Juana was a 72-year-old homemaker born in Puebla, Puebla. Vicente was a 69-year-old mechanic from the Federal District.
Their bodies were not recovered. Their death certificates, issued on October 29 (50 days after the quake), bear the notation “without body” and list the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.” The deaths were certified by a brother of Vicente Rocha.
Moreno Ángeles Family
José Elías Moreno Bañuelos (31 years old), an engineer from Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, lived in this building with his wife, Patricia Ángeles Ríos (30 years old, born in the Federal District and identified as a homemaker), and their two-year-old son, Iván Moreno Ángeles. None of their bodies were recovered.
It is worth noting that, beyond the structural collapse, the building presented a risk of gas explosion that complicated rescue operations. For this reason, their death certificates were not issued until December 3, 1985. The documents list the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.” Relatives of José Elías Moreno carried out the procedures after searching for their remains without success, resulting in the “without body” notation.
Navarrete Téllez Family
Merchant brothers Luis (26 years old) and Víctor Manuel (28 years old) Navarrete Téllez, natives of the Federal District, died in this building, where they occupied a fourth-floor apartment. Their death certificates were issued on September 20 and list “multiple traumas” as the cause of death. The deaths were certified by the brothers' sisters, fathers-in-law, and brothers-in-law. Their remains were cremated at the Dolores Cemetery.
Pontón Sánchez Family
Consuelo Sánchez, widow of Pontón, a 52-year-old homemaker from Dexcani Alto, State of Mexico, died in the collapse alongside her son, Félix José Antonio Pontón Sánchez, a 30-year-old employee from Jilotepec, State of Mexico.
Like many other residents of this building, their bodies were not found. Their death certificates were issued on December 9, 1985, two and a half months after the earthquake.
The documents were marked “without body” and listed the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.” The paperwork was handled by Consuelo's other children and a sister-in-law. According to testimonies, another son of Consuelo, Salvador Pontón Sánchez, survived the earthquake, and a daughter was also rescued and taken to the hospital. No death certificates were found for these individuals.
Pirincz Gandarillas Family
Juan Ernesto Pirincz Seijo, a 68-year-old private employee from the Federal District, died in this building along with his wife, Eulalia Irma Gandarillas Mendoza, a 51-year-old homemaker born in the same location.
In both cases, the bodies were not found, leading to the issuance of death certificates on October 16, 1985, nearly a month after the earthquake. The deaths were certified by the couple's children, who had been pulled from the rubble on the day of the earthquake. The cause of death was recorded as “disaster of September 19” with the added note “without body.” Televisa archival footage shows family members searching for them at the site.
Puente Cochard Family and Caregiver
Francisco Puente Fernández, a 74-year-old retiree from Spain, died in this building alongside his wife and a domestic worker. Francisco was related to Víctor Manuel Fernández, the owner of the Súper Leche restaurant, and owned commercial premises within the property. His wife, Vera Cochard Gallo, was a 62-year-old homemaker born in Asti, Turin, Italy.
The worker who died alongside them was Loreto Durán (82 years old), who had apparently spent her whole life with the family and had cared for the couple's children. Loreto was originally from Texcoco, State of Mexico.
The bodies of these three individuals were not recovered, and their death certificates (issued October 23) bear the notation "without body." The deaths of Francisco and his wife were certified by funeral home staff, while Loreto's death was certified by Alejandra Parra, a goddaughter of the Puentes whom Loreto had cared for during her childhood. Alejandra also certified the death of another neighbor of Greek origin.
Robles San Román Family
Manuel Nicasio Robles González, a 62-year-old merchant born in León, Spain, died in this building alongside his wife and daughter in their first-floor apartment.
His wife was Carolina San Román. While no death certificate was located for her, her death is documented. María Carolina Robles San Román was their 18-year-old daughter, a student born in the Federal District. No bodies were recovered for any member of this family, so the death certificates for father and daughter carry the notation “without body.”
Manuel Nicasio's certificate is dated October 6, while his daughter's is dated October 10. Both list “disaster of September 19” as the cause of death. The paperwork was handled by Manuel and Carolina's surviving children.
Romero González Family
Manuela Romero Velázquez, a 61-year-old homemaker from Santiago Tezoyuca, State of Mexico, died in this building alongside her two-year-old grandson, Javier Eduardo Romero González, born in the Federal District. The child lived with his parents at a different address but had stayed overnight at his grandmother's house on September 18. The child's parents testified for his death certificate on October 17, which listed the cause of death as “disaster of September 19” with the notation “without body.”
Manuela's certificate was issued on December 18, 1985, three months after the earthquake. As with her grandson, her body was not found, resulting in the “without body” notation and the same listed cause of death. In addition to the child's parents, Manuela Romero's nephew, Luis Jorge Arellano—who survived the collapse uninjured and emerged from the rubble on his own—helped handle the procedures.
Romero Téllez Family
Petra Téllez Sarmiento, a 100-year-old homemaker born in Cuauxtla, Puebla, died in this building along with her daughter or granddaughter, Teodocia Romero Téllez, a 48-year-old homemaker from the same birthplace. As in many cases in this building, their remains were not located; consequently, death certificates issued on October 17, 1985, listed the cause of death as “disaster of September 19” with the notation “without body.” The procedures were completed by Petra's children and daughter-in-law.
Salgado Figueroa Family
Juan Manuel Salgado Morales, a 32-year-old employee from Puruándiro, Michoacán, died alongside his wife, Rosa María Figueroa Espín, a 26-year-old secretary born in Tehuixtla, Morelos. The couple lived in an apartment at the back of the first floor. According to relatives who searched for their bodies over many days, Rosa María was pregnant at the time of her death. Their death certificates were issued on September 25 and state the cause of death as multiple traumas. Siblings and cousins of the couple certified the deaths, and their remains were transferred to the cemetery in Tehuixtla, Morelos.
Sáenz Carrillo Family
José Luis Sáenz y Calderón, a 49-year-old employee born in the Federal District, died alongside his wife and daughter in this building. Irene Carrillo Amador, wife of José Luis, was 44 years old, born in Torreón, Coahuila, and worked as a homemaker. Their daughter, Claudia Gabriela Sáenz Carrillo, was a 19-year-old student born in the Federal District.
As with many residents of this building, their bodies were not located. Their death certificates, issued on October 29 (40 days after the quake), bear the note "without body" and list the cause of death as "disaster of September 19." The paperwork was managed by a brother of Irene Carrillo.
Zavala García Family
Cecilia García de Zavala, a 35-year-old homemaker from Zináparo, Michoacán, died in this building alongside her daughters Ylce Yadira (12 years old) and Tania Gabriela (4 years old) Zavala García, both born in the Federal District. Their death certificates were issued on September 26, listing the cause of death as multiple traumas. The deaths were certified by Cecilia's husband and the girls' father, and their remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Rosa María, a sister of Cecilia, organized protests outside the rubble to stop the heavy machinery clearing debris, which ultimately enabled the recovery of her family members’ remains.
Zepeda Silva Family
Ignacia Silva Ortega, a 46-year-old private employee from San Juan del Río, Querétaro, died alongside her 12-year-old daughter, Alejandra Zepeda Silva (born in the Federal District), following the collapse of the building where they lived. Their death certificates were issued on September 20, listing the cause of death as “building collapse, multiple injuries.” A brother and brother-in-law of Ignacia Silva certified the deaths, and their remains were taken to the Spanish Cemetery.
Other deceased individuals
Andrés Muñoz Rojas (77 years old), a merchant from Tepeyanco, Tlaxcala, died in this building from multiple traumas, according to his death certificate dated September 20. The death was certified by his son, and his remains were buried at the Tepeyanco Cemetery in Tlaxcala.
Ángela Godínez Ochoa (22 years old), a secretary and receptionist born in Quitupan, Jalisco, died in this property. Her death certificate was issued on September 26, initially identifying her as unknown before her details were added later. Her remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Artemisa Mauromati Trijas (58 years old), a homemaker born in Athens, Greece, lived on the upper floors of this building and died from trauma, as recorded in her death certificate dated October 2 (13 days after the quake). Her grandson and daughter-in-law certified the death, and her body was taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Caritina Pueblito del Rosario Mora Martínez was initially recorded as unidentified on her September 23 death certificate. Months later, an added note completed her information, specifying that she was 60 years old, a retiree, and a native of Hacienda del Pozo, Querétaro. Unrelated individuals certified her death, and her remains were taken to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery.
Celia Aranguren Urrticochea (53 years old), a homemaker born in Sestao, Spain, was rescued alive from the building where she lived in a fifth-floor apartment. She was taken to La Raza Hospital, where she passed away on October 10 from “hypovolemic shock, acute renal failure, multiple traumas.” Her death certificate was issued on October 11, noting that she was divorced and that her immigration status was unknown. Funeral home staff managed the procedures, and her remains were taken to the Spanish Cemetery.
Elsa Hoyos Machín (36 years old), a federal employee born in the Federal District, died in this building, where she shared an apartment with her husband and son. Her husband had left at 7:05 AM to take their son to the Simón Bolívar School, which saved their lives. Her death certificate was issued on November 29, 49 days after the quake. Her brother and sister-in-law certified the death as witnesses, as her body was not recovered.
Enrique Herrera Hernández, a public servant, was initially listed as unidentified on his September 25 death certificate. Months later, details were added: he was 79 years old and originally from Apan, Hidalgo. He died from incineration due to the building collapse, following the explosion of gas tanks on the site. Unrelated individuals processed the paperwork, and his remains were taken to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery (likely buried first and identified later through photographs).
Fidencio Mendoza Rojas (56 years old), an employee from San Francisco Tetlanohcan, Tlaxcala, died in this property due to the September 19 disaster, according to his death certificate issued on October 24 (35 days after the quake). His wife and brothers certified the death, and his remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Francisca Chávez López (69 years old), a homemaker from Rincón de Ramos, Aguascalientes, died from multiple traumas caused by the seismic movement on the third floor of the building where she resided. Her death certificate was issued on September 19 itself, suggesting her body was among the first recovered. Unrelated individuals and a man named Ricardo Chávez (possibly a relative) certified the death. Her remains were taken to the French Cemetery of La Piedad.
Gloria Pasten Ramírez (60 years old), an employee born in Ajapusco, State of Mexico, died in this building from multiple traumas, as noted on her September 21 death certificate. A brother and nephew certified the death, and her remains were taken to the cemetery in Ajapusco, State of Mexico.
Hilda Infanzón de Méndez (28 years old), an employee born in the Federal District, died from multiple traumas due to the disaster, according to her September 21 death certificate. She lived in a fourth-floor apartment with her husband, Francisco Méndez, who apparently survived as no death certificate was found for him. Her father certified the death, and her remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Javier Gutiérrez Mejía (19 years old), a student and worker born in the Federal District, was rescued alive from the rubble. However, he died at the Magdalena de las Salinas Hospital on September 24, five days after the earthquake. The cause of death was recorded as multiple traumas from the September 19 earthquake. His death certificate was issued on September 25, certified by his brother, and his remains were buried at San Nicolás Tolentino Cemetery.
Julieta Bernal López, an employee of the judicial branch, died in this building. No death certificate was located, but she is cited in other sources. She was 60 years old and born in Morelia, Michoacán. Her remains were taken to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery.
María Cristina Sotelo Dabaddie (72 years old), a retiree from the Federal District, died of traumatic brain injury. She lived in a fourth-floor apartment and was the widow of Luis Mota. Her death certificate was issued on September 21, certified by her granddaughter and a niece. Her remains were taken to the French Cemetery of La Piedad.
Mario Faustino Ramírez Anzures (68 years old), an employee born in Cuautla, Morelos, died from multiple traumas. His death certificate was issued on September 24, certified by his children, and his body was transferred to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery.
Matilde Souza, widow of Casillas (54 years old), a homemaker born in Havana, Cuba, died in this building where she resided. Her death certificate was issued on October 23, 34 days after the quake, because her body was not recovered. The cause of death was listed as “disaster of September 19.” The paperwork was handled by her daughter, Joaquina Casillas, and her neighbor and friend, Alejandra Parra.
Maura Ávila de Herrera (78 years old), a homemaker born in Toluca, State of Mexico, died in this building. As with other cases, she was initially registered as unidentified on September 26, but correct details were added months later via an explanatory note. Her remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Nicasio Rodríguez Rosaldo (72 years old), a native of Ixtlahuaca, Veracruz, who lived on the third floor, died as a result of the earthquake. His body was evidently not located, leading to his certificate being issued in February 1986, five months later. The document lacks key data such as occupation and specific cause of death. His sister, María Rodríguez, handled the paperwork.
Rafael Camarillo Moncivaiz (55 years old), a waiter at Súper Leche born in Mezquite, Zacatecas, died at his workplace. Initially recorded as unidentified on September 26, his details were updated months later. His remains lie in the Dolores Cemetery.
Reynaldo Jorge Gutiérrez Jiménez (approximately 25 years old) died from the collapse caused by the earthquake. No death certificate was found. His remains were taken to the Dolores Cemetery.
Santos Cruz Vargas (36 years old), an employee at Súper Leche, died in the restaurant's kitchen where he sought shelter during the quake. A native of Rincón, State of Hidalgo, his death certificate was issued on October 22 (33 days after the quake). His sister (who also worked at Súper Leche) and his wife searched for his remains until October 20 without success. His certificate bears the notation “without body” and lists the cause of death as “disaster of September 19.”
Silveria Guadalupe Contreras Reyes (55 years old), an employee born in Oaxaca, Oaxaca, died due to the disaster, as recorded in her September 23 death certificate, certified by her son. She was noted as the widow of José López, though no death certificate was found for him. Her remains were taken to Jardines del Recuerdo Cemetery.
Unidentified Persons
Unidentified Body: Sex and approximate age unspecified due to the cause of death being incineration from structural collapse. As in other cases, this individual died from burns following the explosion of gas tanks. The remains were taken to the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery.
Unidentified Male: No additional data available beyond the cause of death: “4th-degree burns, 40% of body surface charred.” The remains were taken to the common grave at the San Lorenzo Tezonco Cemetery, along with other bodies.
Translated and edited by Rodolfo Soriano-Núñez.