Mexico earthquake: Obama's elder daughter safe

Washington: US President Barack Obama's oldest daughter, Malia, is safe and never was in danger during the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that jolted Mexico, the White House has said.

Malia, 13, is on vacation with her friends in Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico.

"In light of today's earthquake, we can confirm that Malia Obama is safe and was never in danger," the US first lady's communications director Kristina Schake said in a written statement.

Reports that Malia was traveling in Mexico for spring break with friends first surfaced on Monday. As always, the White House asked journalists not to report on the Obama children and several media outlets later removed stories they had posted about Malia's vacation.

The quake that struck south of the Pacific resort of Acapulco, between the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, and was followed by several aftershocks, the US Geological Survey said. The quake injured at least 11 people and damaged hundreds of homes.