A magnitude 7.1 earthquake brought central Mexico to its knees on Tuesday when it toppled buildings and left at least 226 dead -- and the photos emerging of the aftermath are devastating.

Signs labeled "Silencio" could be seen held amid the chaos as ordinary citizens joined official rescue crews in searching for survivors in the rubble -- hoping to hear faint cries or whimpers from the beneath the destruction.

The natural disaster originated about 100 miles southeast of Mexico City, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto released a video late on Tuesday urging people to stay calm as search and clean-up missions continue.

As the death toll rises, on-the-ground images from Mexico tell the story of chaos, loss and resilience.

Click through to see images of the Mexico earthquake's devastating aftermath:



25 PHOTOS Devastating aftermath of deadly Mexico earthquake See Gallery Devastating aftermath of deadly Mexico earthquake A woman reacts outside a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero People remove debris outside a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero TOPSHOT - 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 on September 19, 2017. A devastating quake in Mexico on Tuesday killed more than 100 people, according to official tallies, with a preliminary 30 deaths recorded in the capital where rescue efforts were still going on. / AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT (Photo credit should read RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) Debris are pictured at the site of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero People carry debris outside a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Henry Romero Rescue workers remove a dead body after searching through rubble in a floodlit search for students at Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City, Mexico September 20, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso A volunteer searches for survivors in Mexico City on September 20, 2017 after a strong quake hit central Mexico on the eve. A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. / AFP PHOTO / Yuri CORTEZ (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images) Onlookers stand across from a collapsed building after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. Picture taken September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Ginnette Riquelme People react after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso ATTENTION EDITORS - VISUAL COVERAGE OF SCENES OF INJURY OR DEATH A injured woman reacts after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso A rescue dog searches for people among the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Claudia Daut A man reacts near a damaged building after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso A woman reacts after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso People rescue a man after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso An injured woman is being helped after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso People are seen next to a damaged car after an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Claudia Daut Damages are seen after an earthquake hit in Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Rescuers, firefighters, policemen, soldiers and volunteers search for survivors in Mexico City on September 20, 2017 after a strong quake hit central Mexico on the eve. A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. / AFP PHOTO / Yuri CORTEZ (Photo credit should read YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images) Soldiers rest as the search for survivors continues in Mexico City on September 20, 2017 after a strong quake hit central Mexico on the eve. A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. / AFP PHOTO / Pedro PARDO (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images) Supplies are gathered as the search for survivors countinues in Mexico City on September 20, 2017 after a strong quake hit central Mexico on the eve. A powerful 7.1 earthquake shook Mexico City on Tuesday, causing panic among the megalopolis' 20 million inhabitants on the 32nd anniversary of a devastating 1985 quake. / AFP PHOTO / Pedro PARDO (Photo credit should read PEDRO PARDO/AFP/Getty Images) People react after an earthquake hit Mexico City, Mexico September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Claudia Daut MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 19: A man watches 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. (Photo by Christian Palma/Getty Images) A woman prepares coffee in a square after a powerful quake hit Mexico City, late on September 19, 2017. The death toll from a powerful earthquake that rocked Mexico on September 19 has surged to 248 people, the head of the national disaster response agency, Luis Felipe Puente, said on Twitter. / AFP PHOTO / RONALDO SCHEMIDT (Photo credit should read RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP/Getty Images) MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 19: People watch a building knocked down in Viaducto avenue 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. (Photo by Christian Palma/Getty Images) MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - SEPTEMBER 19: A man cries after the 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. (Photo by Hector Vivas/Getty Images) Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

More from :

Insane footage show buildings wobbling and collapsing during Mexico City earthquake

Mexico earthquake kills at least 42 in Morelos state, 5 in Mexico state

Trump blames his failure to call Mexican president after devastating earthquake on 'poor cell phone reception'