The National Seismology Service said the quake's epicentre was 31km north-west of Tecpan, in the south-western state of Guerrero, near the Pacific resort of Acapulco. The United States Geological Survey gave a higher measurement of 7.5-magnitude.

There were no immediate reports of damage, said national civil protection chief Luis Felipe Puente.

Mexico City Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said on Twitter that the authorities were checking the sprawling capital for damage. "For now we are only seeing evacuations," he said.