A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has hit Mexico, sparking a small tsunami.
The United States Geological Survey said a 7.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded 69 kilometres (43 miles) northeast of the town of Pochutla, in Oaxaca, Mexico, today.
The tremor has prompted a tsunami alert for Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
It caused buildings to shake in central Mexico City, with residents fleeing into the street as city alarms rang out minutes before the tremors.
At least four people are dead - and another has been injured after a building collapsed in Oaxaca, according to reports.
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."
Online news site Aristegui Noticias confirmed two people had died in Oaxaca.
Pictures have emerged of cracks in the ground and landslides in the area.
Mexico's seismological service confirmed the quake sparked a small tsunami.
It said the sea level rose 60 centimeters (2 feet) at Huatulco beach, in Oaxaca, normally a popular destination for US and Canadian tourists.
The National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre earlier warned that 'hazardous' tsunami waves from the earthquake were possible along the Pacific coasts of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras.
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."
The centre said the following places face a possible risk of tsunami waves: The Mexican cities of Acapulco, Salina Cruz, Puerto Madero, Lázaro Cárdenas and Manzanillo, Sipacate, in Guatemala, Acajutla, in El Salvador, and Amapala in Honduras.
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.
Power is down in some areas of Mexico.
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.
Situated at the intersection of three tectonic plates, Mexico is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries.
The capital is seen as particularly vulnerable due to its location on top of an ancient lake bed.
