A 6.7-degree earthquake struck the west coast of Nicaragua and was felt strongly in the capital Managua

A strong 6.7-degree earthquake struck much of Nicaragua on Thursday, reported the regime of that country, which so far did not report casualties or material damage.

The earthquake, which lasted several seconds, occurred at 01:42 local (07:42 GMT) at an epicenter located 54 km southwest of the beaches of Masachapa, in the Pacific Ocean, at a depth of 25 km, the Nicaraguan Institute for Territorial Studies (Ineter) said in a statement.

According to the report, the earthquake was caused by the tectonic collision process between the Cocos and Caribe plates that cross the Central American region.

The United States Geological Survey indicated, for its part, that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.7 degrees at a depth of 25 km, off the Nicaraguan coast of Masachapa.

“It was a very strong earthquake,” Vice-President and official spokesperson Rosario Murillo told official media, adding that there is a tsunami warning, but that “this type of event is not considered to happen,” although the country will remain vigilant.

He stated that “no incidents, damages or people affected have been reported so far”, but he urged citizens to be alert to possible aftershocks, clearing exit routes in homes and caring for children and the elderly “in the event of a new earthquake.”

Citizens informed the official La Nueva Radio Since the earthquake was felt strongly in the capital Managua, the north and south of the country and that in some sectors there were power cuts.

(With information from AFP)

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