Powerful 7.6 quake hit Costa Rica, tsunami warning issued

The Atlantic Wire - Huge 7.9 Earthquake Hits Costa Rica

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (Reuters) - A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Costa Rica on Wednesday, rattling buildings and cutting power in some areas of the capital.

Residents of San Jose said electricity poles were rattling along the streets of San Jose and water flowed out of pools during the quake.

The quake's epicenter was in western Costa Rica about 140 km (87 miles) from San Jose, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, and it was felt as far away as Managua, the capital of neighboring Nicaragua.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for Pacific coastlines from Mexico to Chile.

The last major earthquake in Costa Rica was a 6.1 magnitude quake in 2009, which killed 40 people, according to the USGS.

Reuters