Terrifying videos have emerged of the powerful earthquake in Mexico that killed at least 217 people and injured many. Among the many tragedies was the collapse of the Enrique Rebsamen school building in Mexico City, which led to the death of more than 20 children, while another 30 were missing.

Measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale, the earthquake struck soon after scores of people had finished participating in an earthquake drill, 32 years after a disastrous quake left thousands dead.

The toll in the capital, Mexico City, was the highest at 86 and counting, while the quake also claimed lives in other parts of the country, including Morelos (71), Puebla (43), Mexico state (12), Guerrero (3) and Oaxaca (1).

Several videos revealed the extent of the damage, with the quake toppling entire buildings.

One video even showed a building exploding, prompting many alarmed viewers to comment.

This video shows a TV newsreader hurriedly cutting short his bulletin as the earthquake struck.

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Emergency workers and volunteers have been working tirelessly with tools and even their bare hands to find trapped people and rescue them.

Around two million people in Mexico City went without electricity and phone lines were disrupted as well.

Officials asked residents not to smoke on the streets as gas mains could have been damaged in the quake. The president said in a televised address that a state of emergency had already been declared in the places that had been affected by the earthquake.