Mexico earthquake: Hundreds killed, topples buildings

At least 216 people died in Mexico City -- the country's capital -- and in the states of Puebla, Mexico and Morelos, officials said. Previously, authorities had said that as many as 248 people had died. The death toll was later revised.

The epicenter of the 7.1-magnitude earthquake was 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) east-northeast of San Juan Raboso and 34.1 miles (55 km) south-southwest of the city of Puebla, in Puebla state, according to the US Geological Survey.

Dozens of buildings tumbled into mounds of rubble or were severely damaged in densely populated parts of Mexico City and nearby states. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said buildings fell at 44 places in the capital alone as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly.

Hours after the magnitude 7.1 quake, rescue workers were still clawing through the wreckage of a primary school that partly collapsed in the city's south, looking for any children who might be trapped. Some relatives said they had received WhatsApp message from two girls inside.

The federal education department reported late on Tuesday night that 25 bodies had been recovered from the school's wreckage, all but four of them children.

Luis Felipe Puente, head of the national civil defence agency, reported on Tuesday night that the confirmed death toll had been raised to 149.

His tweet said 55 people died in Morelos state, just south of Mexico City, while 49 died in the capital and 32 were killed in nearby Puebla state, where the quake was centred. Ten people died in the state of Mexico, which surrounds Mexico City on three sides, and three were killed in Guerrero state, he said.

The federal government declared a state of disaster in Mexico City, freeing up emergency funds. Mr Pena Nieto said he had ordered all hospitals to open their doors to the injured.