A New Zealander living in Mexico has described running past collapsed buildings and crowds of terrified people as the second powerful earthquake in two weeks struck.
People search a collapsed building in Mexico City after this morning's 7.1 earthquake. Photo: AFP
The 7.1 magnitude earthquake jolted Mexico City and surrounding states this morning, trapping people in collapsed buildings and schools.
Jai Krishnan rushed to his daughter's school. Photo: Supplied / Jai Krishnan
It hit just two weeks after a powerful 8.1 earthquake on 7 September that killed at least 98 people.
Jai Krishnan, from Wellington, was in his second-floor Mexico City apartment when the latest quake struck.
"I actually ran down to my daughter's school, and I ran through plumes of dust and the smell of ash, and I saw lots and lots of people in the street," said Mr Krishnan.
"Parts of buildings have collapsed, about 100 metres from where I live a building has come down on the corner, it probably was six or seven storeys, and it's down to about two storeys now, it's so saddening to see."
Mr Krishnan has lived in the capital with his partner and daughter for a year and was in the city when the previous quake struck.
This shake was even more terrifying than the one that hit earlier this month, he said.
"The magnitude of this, it's such a big force. Certainly stronger, much stronger, than the last one" - Jai Krishnan
"There's sirens and helicopters buzzing around all over the place, I went on to the roof of our building and there's smoke pouring out of other buildings across the city."
Jai Krishnan took this photo of people in the street next to the rubble of a building after the earthquake. Photo: Jai Krishnan