Over 200 people have been killed in the latest earthquake to hit Mexico.
The 7 point 1 magnitude tremor struck the country's capital and central region, flattening buildings.
It's now a race against time in the search for surviors trapped under the rubble.
Nicole Gernon reports:
The 7 point 1 magnitude quake struck Mexico's capital and central region around lunchtime yesterday, with some survivors saying it was the hardest earthquake they'd ever felt.
It was 32 years to the day since the country's worst quake in which 5-thousand people died.
Citizens had just practiced earthquake drills to mark the anniversary, which may have saved some people's lives.
But over 200 are dead after around a dozen buildings collapsed - one of them a school where at least 20 children and two adults were killed.
The #MexicoCityearthquake is absolutely horrific. Can't believe I was there 4 months ago.This was sent last night by someone we worked with😰 pic.twitter.com/zpcKo2BaR3
— Ade Adepitan (@AdeAdepitan) September 20, 2017
People are being asked not to smoke in the street due to ruptured gas mains and to be as quiet as possible while rescuers listen for sounds underneath the rubble.
An army of volunteers is helping the professionals.
President Michael D. Higgins has sent his condolences to the people of Mexico and the country's president, Enrique Pena Nieto, who says it's a tragedy
Some people are still being pulled out alive but Mexico's Civil Protection Agency says the death toll could still rise.
Image taken with a mobile phone shows people watching a collapsed building after an earthquake in Mexico City | Image: XU LIANG/Xinhua News Agency/PA Images
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens there to exercise a high degree of caution, saying earthquake aftershocks may be expected.
The department says Irish citizens in affected areas should stay in close contact with their hotels or tour operators, let their friends and families know they are safe and follow the advice of local authorities.
Following 7.1 #earthquake in #Mexico, see updated Travel Advice for Irish citizens here: https://t.co/timFP2yj2a @dfatravelwise
— Irish Embassy Mexico (@IrishEmbMexico) September 19, 2017
Oswaldo Casillas, who lives in the capital, says it was frightening.
"The ground started moving, it was very strong, the window started to break, people started to leave their homes.
"This building in front collapsed.
"I saw that they rescued one person - they were in the middle of the building".
With additional reporting by Nicole Gernon
