A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 has rocked central Mexico and its capital, killing at least 224 people and destroying buildings.<br /><br />According to the US geological survey, the epicentre was located in Puebla state, just south of Mexico City.<br /><br />It struck around lunchtime sending thousands running into the streets in panic.<br /><br />President Enrique Peña Nieto flew over the area to survey the damage:<br /><br />“At this moment we have an emergency in Mexico City and we are going to focus our operational presence in the capital.”<br /><br />The death toll has been rising steadily so far it is around 150 with the authorities fearing that will rise due to the region being so densely populated.<br /><br />Toppled buildings<br /><br />Hundreds of volunteers and rescue workers have been digging through the rubble with picks, shovels and their bare hands.<br /><br />Schools have been closed and around four million people are without electricity.<br /><br />The earthquake comes on the 32 anniversary of the devastating 1985 tremor that left 10,000 people dead.<br />
