Mexico earthquake triggers small tsunami off coast as sea level rises 2 feet

An earthquake in Mexico has triggered a small tsunami on the country's Pacific coast.

The country's seismological service said the sea level rose 60 centimeters (2 feet) at Huatulco beach, in Oaxaca, normally a popular destination for US and Canadian tourists.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country earlier today, killing at least two people and sparking landslides.

It caused buildings to shake in central Mexico City, with residents fleeing into the street as city alarms rang out minutes before the tremors.

A tsunami warning was issued for Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala following the tremor.

The National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre tweeted: "The #tsunami threat to Mexico from its M7.4 #earthquake has now largely passed. The largest measured wave was 0.7m/2.3ft. #PTWC."

The tsunami struck off Mexico's Pacific coast (earthquakes.ga.gov.au)

The centre said gauges in Mexico measured tsunami waves of 71cm in Salina Cruz and 68cm in Acapulco.

It earlier warned that 'hazardous' tsunami waves from the earthquake were possible along the Pacific coast.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said: "Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters... hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 1000km of the earthquake epicenter.

"Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within 1000km of the epicenter along the coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras."

Waves of up to one metre are possible, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned.

The earthquake has caused damage across Mexico (REUTERS)

Journalist Andalusia Knoll said her head was 'still spinning' from the quake.

She added: "One of our main fears during earthquakes in Mexico City are the power lines exploding - fortunately these didn’t fall down but they surely looked like they might."

Despite the tsunami threat to some Central American countries, the National Weather Service said there was no risk to Hawaii or the west coast of the US. 

At least two people have died in the tremor (REUTERS)

Alberto Ibanez, a photographer in Oaxaca City, told Reuters: "Everybody fled into the street, it was really strong,"

Mexico City's public security ministry said a flyover showed 'there are no fallen buildings'.

Quakes of magnitudes over 7 are major earthquakes capable of widespread, heavy damage.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake that struck central Mexico in 2017 killed 355 people in the capital and the surrounding states.