Mexico has been hit by the biggest earthquake in nearly a century, prompting tsunami warnings across many parts of Central America's west coast.

The earthquake struck off Mexico's southwestern coast near the Mexican border with Guatemala.

The magnitudes of various initial estimates vary, but Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the magnitude was 8.2.

The city was so strong that one of the city's most symbolic landmarks, the golden "Angel of Independence" and the lamppost, shook violently.

The Tsunami Warning System (Tsunami Warning System) issued a Warning about a potential Tsunami threat, Warning covers Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, panama, Ecuador and costa rica.

Mr Pena nieto said the quake was "intense, prolonged and intense" and noted that 42 aftershocks had been recorded and that there were likely aftershocks.

"This is the strongest earthquake we've recorded at least 100 years," the President said in a speech at the National Disasater Prevention Centre in Mexico.

He confirmed that five people were reported to have been killed, but he said it was too early to quantify the losses.