An earthquake described by Mexico's president as the country's strongest in a century has struck off the southern coast, killing at least 36 people.

The quake, which President Enrique Peña Nieto (Pina Nioto) said the earthquake measured 8.2, struck in the Pacific, about 87km south‑west of Pijijiapan.

Oaxaca(Wahaka) and Chiapas states bore the brunt of the damage and dozens of aftershocks have been reported.

President Peña Nieto said about 50 million Mexicans would have felt the tremor and that the death toll might rise. His office said he would travel to Chiapas to survey the damage.