(KNBC/WTHR) — Following the destructive 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed hundreds of people and crumbled buildings in Mexico City on Tuesday, and the Category 4 Hurricane Maria that hit Puerto Rico Wednesday, several major cell phone carriers are waiving fees for those affected by the temblor to help them get in touch with loved ones.
In separate press releases, Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T announced that customers can contact family and friends through call and text with charges being waived, including roaming charges.
Sprint, which owns Boost and Virgin Mobile, is allowing customers to call and text to Mexico without additional charges through Friday, Sept. 22. Roaming voice and SMS charges for customers in Mexico trying to reach friends and family in the U.s. will also be waived.
The same benefits will be available to Sprint customers trying to reach Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through Sunday, Sept. 24.
AT&T announced it would offer free calls, texts and data for customers in Mexico through Saturday, Sept. 23. The company suggests customers use texting first due to potential network congestion in the area. AT&T is also waiving fees and issuing credits for customers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
U.S. customers may also receive credits for texts messages and calls from cell and landline phones to to the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Turks and Caicos, Saint Martin and Saint Maarten through Sept. 22. Cricket Wireless, owned by AT&T, is providing customers free calls to the Dominican Republic and Haiti through Sept. 22.
AT&T said customers might still alerts regarding data overages, but the following billing will reflect correct charges.
T-Mobile, which also owns MetroPCS, announced it will allow customers from the U.S. and Puerto Rico to contact others in Mexico without additional charge until Sept. 22. Customers in Puerto Rico will also be allowed to contact the U.S. for free through Sept. 24.