Powerful magnitude-7.6 earthquake reported in Costa Rica

NOSARA, Costa Rica – A powerful, magnitude-7.6 earthquake shook Costa Rica on Wednesday. There were no immediate accounts of damage or injuries.

The USGS said the 8:42 a.m. quake struck about 38 miles (60 kilometres) from the town of Liberia and 88 miles (141 kilometres) west of the capital, San Jose. It was centred about 25 miles (41 kilometres) below the surface,

In the coastal town of Nosara in northwest Costa Rica, trees shook violently and light posts swayed. Teachers chased primary school students outside.

A tsunami warning was in effect for Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Peru and a tsunami watch was in effect for Chile, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin. It said it was unknown if a tsunami was generated, but the warning was based on the size of the earthquake.