Powerful quake strikes Costa Rica, no initial reports of damage

A powerful earthquake struck western Costa Rica on Tuesday, shaking buildings in the capital of San Jose, but there were no initial reports of damage or injuries.

Residents of San Jose ran out of buildings after the 6.6 magnitude quake hit, but many went back indoors soon afterward, a Reuters witness said.

The quake was centered about 38 miles (61 km) south of Liberia, western Costa Rica, at a depth of 24.5 miles (39.5 km), the U.S. Geological Survey said. The USGS had initially measured the tremor at a significantly shallower depth.

The quake struck in a tourist area close to where the Central American nation was rocked by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 5, which damaged buildings but caused no deaths.