The quake was 25 miles (40 km) south west of the Mexican city of Tapachula, on the border with Guatemala, with a depth of around 47 miles (75 km).

Earthquakes of magnitude above 6.0 can cause widespread damage in populated areas, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to a spokesman for the Guatemalan emergency services.

A Reuters reporter in Guatemala City said he felt shaking for 30 seconds. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it did not expect a tsunami but noted that quakes of this size can sometimes generate localized sea surges.

Heavy rain in recent weeks has left rural parts of Guatemala prone to mudslides.

The quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.7.