Travellers to the Mexican capital, Mexico, are being warned to brace for major delays in the country’s transport system.

Key points:The International Transport Association (ITA) said many flights were cancelled across the country with some airlines not operating as planned.

The airline industry in Mexico is struggling to cope with the devastating earthquake, which struck in a densely populated region near the border with Canada.

The Mexican government says at least 16 people have died and more than 1,000 have been injured.

The ITA said there was an “extremely high risk” that travellers could be stranded at the border.

The association said some flights to the country were cancelled and passengers were being turned away.

The organisation said there were also a number of flights that had not yet been operated, and that some airlines were not operating.

The travel advisory from the ITA was issued on Tuesday evening, ahead of the second day of the earthquake.

It said the travel advice “includes all airports, airports, airlines and airlines carriers that are operating or are about to operate, including charter operators, carriers with the ability to operate charter flights or airlines with the capacity to operate on-demand services, as well as those airlines which are not operating.”

The agency warned travellers should check with their airline to find out whether they were on their usual itinerary, and did not include flights from Canada, the US, Australia or the UK.

It advised travellers should “exercise caution” and to take extra care in the event of an emergency.

“Stay away from areas where there is a risk of a large earthquake or other natural disaster, especially those where there are large population centers such as hospitals, airports or major cities,” it said.

There were no immediate reports of fatalities or injuries from the quake.

The death toll has risen to 16, with the injured at least 14.

The ITA said more than 2,000 flights had been cancelled as of Tuesday morning, and more flights were expected to be cancelled later in the day.

In an email to the ITA, ITA president Michael Cappuccio said there had been a “considerable increase” in cancellations over the last week and the travel advisory “has led to a number cancellations”.

The agency urged people to check the itineraries of airlines before travelling, and advised travellers to avoid areas with a high number of hospitals, schools, parks, or churches, and avoid areas where they may be affected by landslides or flooding.

“Travelers are advised to use extra caution, particularly in the case of landslides, and to avoid dangerous situations in populated areas, including those where the earthquake is suspected,” he said.

The earthquake, the deadliest since 2006, caused major damage in the capital of Ciudad Juarez and other towns.

The quake also caused a tsunami and widespread power outages.

Mexico City and the capital, Tegucigalpa, were devastated by the quake and have since reopened to public life.

More than 30,000 people are still being treated for injuries, according to emergency services, and the country has been devastated by weeks of mudslides and landslides.

The US has declared a state of emergency in six Mexican states and has imposed restrictions on travel to the area.