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CatastropheNicaragua

Earthquake rocks Central America

July 19, 2023

The earthquake, initially measured at 6.5 magnitude, struck Nicaragua, Guatemala and other countries on the Pacific coast. It has not yet triggered a tsunami warning.

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Pacific coast of Nicaragua
There have been no casualties so farImage: Alfredo Zuniga/AP Photo/picture alliance

A powerful earthquake shook many countries in Central America on Tuesday, with an initially measured magnitude of 6.5, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake shook much of Central America late on Tuesday evening, from Nicaragua to Guatemala, forcing residents in some cities onto the streets.

 The epicenter of the earthquake was 27 miles (43 kilometers) south of Intipuca, El Salvador, the USGS said.

No immediate report of victims, damage

The USGS, however, added that the tremor did not trigger a Tsunami warning. No damages were immediately reported, the USGS said, while Nicaraguan authorities reported no immediate victims within their country.

Residents of El Salvador's capital of San Salvador ran into the streets as the ground beneath them shook. However, no damages or injuries were immediately reported.

The tremor was also felt in Honduras and Belize, the Reuters news agency reported.

The earthquake was felt "throughout the country" in Honduras, the early warning coordinator for the Permanent Contingency Commission, Juan Jose Reyes, told reporters. It was felt strongest near the Gulf of Fonseca, which borders El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras.

Earlier this year, a strong earthquake struck Ecuador, and Peru killing over a dozen and leaving a trail of destruction behind.

rmt/jsi (AP, Reuters)