(eTN) – A 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook Costa Rica at 14:42:10 UTC today, Wednesday, September 5, 2012, off the northwest coast, according to a report from the US Geological Survey.
The epicenter was 6 miles away from Hojancha city and struck Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula on the Pacific coast about 87 miles west of the capital of San Jose. It was centered more than 28 miles deep.
According to reports, the quake lasted for about 30 seconds. A tsunami warning was initially issued and then cancelled. Water had receded and 5,000 people had already been evacuated from coastal town in the Samara district by the time the tsunami warning was cancelled.
Damage included downed telephone service, highway damage and a landslide, a partial bridge collapse, debris, and some houses were knocked down. Inside homes and stores, items were shook off their shelves.
One person, struck with fear, died from a heart attack.
