The death toll following the devastating Mexico earthquake now stands at 225, according to the country’s civil protection agency.

The head of the agency, Luis Felipe Puente, said 94 are dead in Mexico City, 71 in Morelos state, 43 in Puebla, 12 in the State of Mexico, four in Guerrero and one in Oaxaca.



Interior Minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong had earlier said the total was at least 226, but this was quickly revised up to 248 on Wednesday morning, before coming back down.

Central Mexico was struck by a 7.1 magnitude quake yesterday evening and a citywide recovery operation is currently underway in the capital. Some 86 people are thought to have died in the city itself.

Among those killed were at least 20 children in a school where buildings collapsed.

A mix of neighborhood volunteers, police and firefighters used trained dogs and their bare hands to search through the school’s rubble.

Reports swept through the crowd of anxious parents outside the gates that relatives in two families had received Whatsapp messages from girls trapped inside, but that could not be confirmed.

The rescue effort continued through the night, the work punctuated by cries of “quiet” so searchers could listen for any faint calls for help.

Dozens of buildings were felled by tremors on Tuesday, and power was knocked out for 40 per cent of Mexico City and 60 per cent of Morelos state, to its south.

According to CNN Español, about four million people are without electricity.

The capital’s mayor, Miguel Angel Mancera, said buildings fell at 44 places as high-rises across the city swayed sickeningly.

The earthquake struck close to the town of Raboso in the central state of Puebla, 76 miles southeast of Mexico City, the US Geological Survey said.

It was the deadliest in Mexico since a 1985 quake on the same date killed thousands. It came less than two weeks after another powerful quake caused 90 deaths in the country’s south.

Mexico’s federal government has declared a state of disaster, meaning emergency funds are now available to help respond to the devastation.

Mexico City earthquake in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Mexico City earthquake in pictures Mexico City earthquake in pictures A handout picture provided by the citizen Edgar Cabalceta shows a general view of Mexico City following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake, in Mexico City, Mexico EPA Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents look for victims amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. The earthquake comes 32 years after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit on September 19, 1985 Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures A police officer stands guard near a building which collapsed after a quake rattled Mexico City RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers and volunteers remove rubble and debris from a flattened building in search of survivors after a powerful quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents look for victims amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures People try to rescue survivors from a collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on the Richter scale in Mexico City, Mexico, 19 September 2017. At least 79 people lost their lives in the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico by the earthquake of magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale. EPA Mexico City earthquake in pictures People clear rubble after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures People clear rubble after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures Rescuers and residents assists an injured victim amid the ruins of a building knocked down by a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that jolted central Mexico damaging buildings, knocking out power and causing alarm throughout the capital on September 19, 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico. The earthquake comes 32 years after a magnitude-8.0 earthquake hit on September 19, 1985. Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures People remove debris outside a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico REUTERS Mexico City earthquake in pictures People remove debris as they search for possible victims after a quake rattled Mexico City on September 19, 2017. A powerful earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. The US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 7.1 while Mexico's Seismological Institute said it measured 6.8 on its scale. The institute said the quake's epicenter was seven kilometers west of Chiautla de Tapia, in the neighboring state of Puebla. AFP/Getty Images Mexico City earthquake in pictures A security guard walks over debris of a building which collapsed during a quake in Mexico City AFP/Getty Mexico City earthquake in pictures Reconstruction work in the towns affected by the telic movement has begun. Several temples suffered severe damage. Rex

US President Donald Trump tweeted following the quake: “God bless the people of Mexico City. We are with you and will be there for you.” The response came more quickly than Mr Trump’s offer of condolences following a prior 8.1 tremor in Oaxaca earlier this month, that killed at least 98 people.

Mr Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, offered “a big hug” to the US’ southern neighbour. He tweeted: “Thinking about our neighbors in Mexico and all our Mexican-American friends tonight. Cuidense mucho y un fuerte abrazo para todos.”

Aurelio Nuño, the Mexican secretary of public education, said classes were suspended for all pupils in eight states. He cut short a visit to Havana, Cuba, to attend to the emergency, Univision reported.

Mexico's head of civil protection, Luis Felipe Puente, exhorted the population to continue helping rescue workers from 8am on Wednesday, local time, the site added.