A strong earthquake has hit the Mexico state of Oaxaca according to the United States Geological Survey.

The epicentre of the quake – which measured 6.2 on the Richter scale – was recorded 80 miles west-south-west of the city of Oaxaca at 02:22 local time this morning.

At present the Oaxaca Civil Defence agency has reported no damage or loss of life, but officials are continuing to check communities for reports of damage or casualties.

Pictured: The Mexican city of Oaxaca

The earthquake hit when many people were asleep, with reports suggesting tremors were felt as far away Mexico City, 220 miles to the north-west.

Around the World

Yesterday a small earthquake on the San Andreas Fault rattled California from Santa Rosa to San Luis Obispo.

The tremor struck at 07:47 local time, according to the US Geological Survey, with the epicentre recorded some five miles beneath the ocean north-west of the San Francisco Zoo.

The Geological Survey estimated the quake’s magnitude at 3.3 on the Richter scale.

In Fiji, a strong earthquake - with an estimated magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale – was recorded to the south of the island by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

A statement from the government body said the quake’s epicentre was 584 kilometres from the south-east of Suva, Fiji, and 7,316 kilometres south-west of Kunak, Sabah.

The earthquake did not pose any tsunami threat, it added.