Mexico earthquake: More than 200 people killed in devastating 7.1 magnitude quake

At least 248 people have been killed as a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated central Mexico.

Twenty children are among the dead after a school collapsed in Mexico City’s southern Coapa district, President Enrique Peña Nieto said.

The bodies of two adults were also found among the rubble while a desperate search continued for a further 30 pupils and eight members of staff, he added.

Mexico's civil defence agency this morning put the death toll at 248, with more than half of the dead in Mexico City.

However, there were conflicting reports surrounding the death toll with some outlets reporting that it had been lowered to 217 but was likely to rise.

A further 55 people were killed in Morelos state, just south of the capital, and 32 in Puebla.

A further 10 people were reported to have died in Mexico State and three in Guerrero.

Two million people were left without electricity following the quake while officials issued a stark warning to residents not to smoke on the street amid fears gas mains had ruptured.