Mexico’s civil defence agency has said the death toll has risen to 226 from Tuesday’s magnitude 7.1 earthquake that knocked down dozens of buildings in Mexico City and nearby states.

Twenty-two bodies were pulled from rubble at a school in Mexico City, while rescuers searched for a further 38 missing people at the site.

The official Twitter feed of agency head Luis Felipe Puente said early Wednesday that 117 people were confirmed dead in Mexico City, and 55 died in Morelos state, which is just south of the capital.

Mr Pena Nieto visited the school late on Tuesday and said in comments broadcast online by Financiero TV that 30 children and eight adults were still reported missing.

Rescue workers were continuing to search and listening for sounds from the rubble.

Earlier the head of Mexico’s civil defence agency said the nationwide death toll from Tuesday’s earthquake has risen to 149.

A man comforts a frightened student as he collects her from her school in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)A man comforts a frightened student as he collects her from her school in the Roma neighborhood of Mexico City (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he is saddened by the loss of life and damage resulting from the earthquake.

Mr Guterres extended his condolences to the government and people of Mexico and wished those injured a speedy recovery, according to a statement released by his spokesman.

A car lays crushed under the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City (Carlos Cisneros/PA)A car lays crushed under the collapsed Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City (Carlos Cisneros/PA)

The statement said the UN stands ready to assist Mexico following the quake.