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Aftershock Keeps Calexico's Historic Downtown Shuttered

Aftershock Keeps Calexico's Historic Downtown Shuttered
Thursday morning's 5.3 aftershock has caused more damage in Calexico. The city's historic downtown will not re-open Friday as planned.

Thursday morning's 5-point-3 aftershock has caused more damage in Calexico. The city's historic downtown will not re-open Friday as planned.

Calexico's City Manager, Victor Carillo, says Thursday's jolt made Senator Barbara Boxer stumble as she toured damage in the Imperial Valley.

He says the aftershock has forced the city to close another block in downtown Calexico.

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"An additional nine businesses were red tagged. We had a roof collapse in one of the older buildings. And it's adjacent neighboring businesses also suffered severe structural damage, that we closed off that block."

Carillo says the Gran Mercado building downtown will have to be demolished.

About 12 square blocks of businesses have remained closed since Sunday. Another 260 businesses around the city are closed while they await inspection. That means thousands of lost jobs and sales tax dollars.

El Centro city officials say the grand total for damage to their city is $188 million dollars.