WATCH: Major earthquake rocks central Mexico – hundreds feared dead

MORE than 150 people are feared dead, including schoolchildren, after a powerful earthquake struck central Mexico.

The quake struck just after 1pm (local time) with its epicentre about 100 miles from Mexico City.

Buildings crumbled, power and telephone lines were brought down forcing thousands out on onto the streets.

Residents and workers dug with their bare hands to free anyone trapped in tumbled buildings and crushed cars before emergency services and heavy lifting machinery arrived. 

The 7.1 magnitude earthquake  came on the 32nd anniversary of the huge 1985 quake that left  more than 5,000 dead.

Mexico’s president Enrique Pena Nieto visited the scene of a primary school where at least 20 children and two adults died. Thirty schoolchildren are still missing.

Mexico is regarded  as a highly active region. The country sits at the boundary of three pieces (tectonic plates) of the Earth’s crust.

On 7 Septmber an 8.1 magnitued earthquake struck roughly 400 miles southeast in Mexico that killed at least 90 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

Todos Unidos en amor, orando por México; prestando toda la ayuda que sea necesaria. #mexico #mexicodf #mexicoterremoto #PrayForMexico pic.twitter.com/nKRfHOeDVY

— Jorge Kohen בן יוסף (@Jorge_Kohen) September 19, 2017

#mexicoterremoto nuestras oraciones por ustedes FUERZA MÉXICO! pic.twitter.com/kdJW6xv7CO

— Jhon Jairo Rodriguez (@j2r2asistencia) September 19, 2017

Necesitamos su ayuda en el Tec campus ciudad #ULTIMAHORA #ULTIMOMINUTO #mexicoterremoto apoyen por favor. RT RT pic.twitter.com/5XQaYVAxYS

— Eliezer Brito (@EliezerBrito7) September 19, 2017

Os dejo imagen del Seismo en México.pic.twitter.com/KkE0rbdp8u#mexicoterremoto #FuerzaMexico

— Sobres en B (@SobresEnB) September 19, 2017

Así se vivió en Puebla. #sismocdmx#Sismomexico#PrayForMexico#Mexicanosfuertes#MexicoUnido#mexicoterremoto#MexicoFuerte#Sismo pic.twitter.com/FqdchXj8ho

— Comandante Telésforo (@Tristoforoo) September 20, 2017

Terrible lo que pasa en Mexico
??Fuerza a ese pueblo y a salir adelante!??#Mexico #MexicoTerremoto #PrayForMexico pic.twitter.com/ci0hw8Q1B1

— Ψ MARIANO CASAL Ψ (@casalmariano2) September 19, 2017