19 Sep 2017 ــــ Thousands of people tore through Mexico City in terror as a powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake toppled buildings and trapped residents on the anniversary of a devastating 1985 tremor.

The giant quake, which is believed to have killed at least 44 people, sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets as skyscrapers swayed and bridges collapsed.

Hospital staff evacuated wards across the city at 1:15pm local time (7:15pm GMT) – shading babies in incubators under trees as horrified patients watched brick walls crumble around them.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 7.1 and was centred near the Puebla state town of Raboso, about 76 miles south east of Mexico City.

The capital’s mayor said there were reports of people trapped in collapsed and burning buildings.