An earthquake described by Mexico’s president as the country’s strongest in a century has struck off the southern coast, killing at least 33 people.

The quake, which President Enrique Peña Nieto said measured 8.2, struck in the Pacific, about 87km (54 miles) south-west of Pijijiapan.

Severe damage has been reported in Oaxaca and Chiapas states.

A tsunami warning was initially issued for Mexico and other nearby countries, but later lifted.

The quake, which struck at 23:50 local time on Thursday (04:50 GMT Friday), was felt hundreds of miles away in Mexico City, with buildings swaying and people running into the street. The tremors there were reported to have lasted up to a minute.

President Peña Nieto said about 50 million Mexicans would have felt the tremor and that the death toll might rise.