7.6 magnitude quake off coast of Honduras

ONE of the strongest earthquakes has  hit the Caribbean in years struck off the coast of Honduras this afternoon, shaking the mainland and sparking tsunami fears.

Tsunami fears were cancelled about an hour after they were issued and there have been no reports of serious damage or deaths.

The depth of the quake was 10km which would have amplified its effect. It was initially recorded as a 7.8 magnitude, but then downgraded to 7.6 by USGS.

The tsunami advisory was in effect for Puerto Rico and the US. Virgin Islands, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

The quake rattled windows in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa about 520km to the east, but no damage was immediately reported. It was also lightly felt in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo north of Honduras, according to Mexico’s civil protection director.

The northern coast of Honduras closest to the quake’s epicentre is sparsely populated, with much of it covered by nature reserves. Some people in the capital of Tegucigalpa said they did not feel the tremor.