7.6 quake hits Costa Rican coast

Wed, September 05, 2012 - 12:20 PM

CNN) -- An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck off the coast of Costa Rica Wednesday, resulting in some damage, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake struck off of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, about 87 miles west of the capital, San Jose. It was centered more than 28 miles deep. The Geological Survey originally measured the quake at magnitude 7.9, but revised it downward.

The earthquake did not generate any aftershocks, said Julie Dutton of the USGS. She said the agency has received reports of some damage.

The epicenter was just six miles away from the city of Hojancha.

"It started out pretty mild, but then it really got going," said Bill Root, owner of a hotel in Samara, also near the epicenter. "It was a very strong earthquake. Everything was falling off the shelves and the ground was rolling."

Authorities issued tsunami warnings for much of the Pacific coastlines of Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The warning was canceled for other locations.

An earlier tsunami watch for the Caribbean was sent out inadvertently and subsequently retracted.

CNN affiliate Teletica showed people streaming out of buildings after the quake.

Telephone service was knocked out in the cities near the epicenter, Teletica reported.