A powerful earthquake struck Mexico yesterday, shaking buildings in the capital and sending people running out into the street, although there were no early reports of major damage.

The magnitude 7.2 quake was centred in the southwestern state of Guerrero, close to the Pacific beach resort of Acapulco, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

Some residents of the capital ran outdoors in their pajamas after the quake. Electricity was cut off in parts of the city and some residents said paintings fell off the walls and small parts of masonry crumbled inside apartment buildings.

Luis Felipe Puente, head of the Mexican government’s emergency services, said there were no immediate reports of damage and the US Pacific Warning Centre said it did not expect the quake to trigger a destructive tsunami.

Nevertheless, residents of the capital were shaken by the quake, one of the biggest to hit Mexico in several years.

“I had to hold on to a tree, like a drunk,” said Pedro Hernandez, 68, a doorman working in central Mexico City.

The USGS said the quake was centred some 37 kilometres north of the municipality of Tecpan de Galeana in Guerrero. It was relatively shallow, at a depth of about 24 kilometres.

Emergency services in Guerrero, which is frequently struck by earthquakes, said there were no immediate reports of major damage, but that checks were still being made. An employee of the Fairmont hotel in Acapulco, said the situation was calm and that guests had returned to the building.

“The structure is fine,” the woman, who identified herself only as Ana, said by telephone.

Cesar Sanchez, 24, a student living in Guerrero’s capital Chilpancingo said he got a big shock when the tremors began.

“I was in bed, and some things fell that have never fallen. The dogs outside were barking and barking,” Sanchez said.