Strong tremor shakes buildings in Mexico City

 A strong earthquake struck a sparsely populated area in the mountains of western Mexico, and caused tall buildings to sway more than 320 kilometres away in Mexico City.

People evacuated some buildings in the capital, but the city government said helicopter flights had detected no signs of damage.

Authorities in Michoacan state, where the tremor was centered, also had no immediate reports of damage.

The US Geological Survey reported a preliminary reading of 7.0 magnitude for the quake, which it said was centered 384 kilometres west-southwest of Mexico City and 143 kilometres northwest of the Pacific resort of Zihuantanejo.

A quake of that magnitude is considered a major earthquake, but this one hit about 65.6 kilometres below the surface and a tremor's power to cause damage is often dissipated when it is so deep.

Manuael Ortiz Rosete, the Michoacan state civil protection director, said no damage had been reported major cities and coastal communities of the state.