mexico city school collapse week kill least 19 children earthquake prompt many mexicans question whether build cod develop devastate 1985 temblor easily flout stringent cod enact massive temblor kill thousands three decades ago minimize damage week across metropolis 20 million people even experts say nearly impossible design structure withstand quake least 293 people die tuesday quake measure 7.1 richter scale toll could far bad still collapse structure build new cod include enrique rebsamen school become symbol week tragedy spark concern implementation rule still gap mean new build always fully comply say roberto meli piralla structural engineer expert seismic preparedness national autonomous university mexico early know code violations neglect corruption factor collapse school 50 build mexico city yet engineer say challenge remain enforce cod uniformly ensure builders inspectors property owners follow approve plan inspectors criminally liable build ok prove structurally unsound mayor district school locate say office unable find documentation assess construction structural history blame problems include corruption predecessor administration come office many file miss say claudia sheinbaum mayor tlalpan district say proof corruption anything collapse quake municipal officials already discuss revisions strengthen code oversight say piralla part engineer group make recommendations city recent weeks one suggestion accord another engineer involve discussions independent third-party review design inspectors sign secretariat house urban development municipal office oversee code could reach comment even compliance universal engineer say way fully prepare earthquakes vary widely tuesday temblor generate different frequency shockwave 1985 quake topple mid-sized build roughly six eight stories compare tower 12 15 floor 1985. possible say problems could foresee say antonio gallardo member board architects mexico city council uphold professional standards across capital damage tuesday happen central southern district soil less solid northern neighborhoods urban development even improvements recent decades still patchwork although topple build still investigate build 1987 code periodically revise since school southern mexico city old two structure remain stand new build collapse build early last decade open 2004 accord several people familiar history school private facility found 1980s family run accord two adult former students principal daughter founder live apartment part collapse structure survive quake current former students say neither principal family members could reach comment local authorities neighbor parent demand answer could approve school ask raul az doctor whose 7-year-old son eduardo die school build poorly build prior quake guide investigations full account take years experts say would impossible build structure could withstand quake always go degree uncertainty say mary comerio professor architecture researcher disaster recovery university california berkeley cite 2011 earthquake level even costly modern structure christchurch new zealand extent phenomenon know liquefaction solid soil behave like liquid surprise scientists notwithstanding architectural advance many variables come play include human error grind condition location depth force earthquake 2006 comerio author paper journal science call build make earthquake-safe answer largely say mexico school collapse spur doubt build code quake