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Irish officials ready to provide assistance after massive Mexico earthquake kills 32 people

TOPSHOT - View of a street at the eastern area of Mexico City after a 8,2 earthquake on September 8, 2017. A powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake rocked Mexico late Thursday, killing at least 16 people in what the president called the quake-prone country's biggest one in a century. / AFP PHOTO / ALFREDO ESTRELLA (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)

THE Irish Department of Foreign Affairs have said they are ready to provide consular assistance after a massive earthquake hit southern Mexico.

At least 32 people were killed after a massive 8.1 magnitude earthquake erupted off the country’s southern coast on Thursday night, September 7.

The quake, one of the biggest recorded in Mexico, caused cracks in buildings and triggered a small tsunami, authorities said.

According to Reuters, a number of buildings suffered severe damage in parts of southern Mexico.

Some of the worst initial reports came from the town of Juchitan in Oaxaca state, where sections of the town hall, a hotel, a bar and other buildings were reduced to rubble.

Alejandro Murat, the State Governor, said 23 deaths were registered in Oaxaca alone, with 17 of them in Juchitan.

A spokesman for emergency services said seven people were also confirmed dead in the neighboring state of Chiapas.

Previously, the Governor of Tabasco, Arturo Nunez, said two children had died in his state.

In a statement to The Irish Post, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs said while they are unaware of any Irish casualties, they stand ready to provide consular assistance.

“We are aware of reports of the Earthquake in Chiapas, Mexico and advise any Irish citizens in the area to follow the advice of local authorities.

"We are not aware of any Irish casualties at present but stand ready to provided Consular Assistance if requested."