Trump offers condolences to Mexican president after quake, storm

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Major earthquake slams Mexico’s southern coast

A massive earthquake slams Mexico’s southern coast and causes massive destruction and more than a dozen deaths

The White House issued a statement late Thursday, confirming that President Donald Trump has spoken with his Mexican counterpart regarding last week’s back-to-back natural disasters south of the U.S. border.

A magnitude 8.1 earthquake Sept. 7 off the Pacific coast in southern Mexico was followed Sept. 8 by the arrival of Hurricane Katia along the country’s Gulf Coast.

The earthquake killed at least 98 people and the hurricane killed at least two. The disasters also displaced thousands of people and caused significant structural damage.

“President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico to extend his condolences for the lives lost and homes destroyed due to the earthquake and Hurricane Katia,” the statement read.

“President Trump expressed solidarity with the government and people of Mexico as both our countries respond to the recent spate of natural disasters. President Trump and President Peña Nieto both emphasized the continued need to work together on issues of mutual interest, including responding to natural disasters.”

Trump received criticism after the Mexican disasters for not being in touch sooner with Peña Nieto. The White House responded that Trump tried to contact the Mexican leader sooner, but communications were hampered by bad mobile phone connections, the Guardian reported.