Powerful Quake Hits El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR (EFE) – A magnitude6 earthquake off the coast of ElSalvador rocked northern Central AmericaMonday morning, knocking out telephonelines and causing panic, but no seriousdamage or deaths.The quake struck at 9:23 a.m., 25 kilometersoff the coast of El Salvador’s LosCóbanos beach, according to the NationalService of Territorial Studies.As of Monday afternoon, the RedCross had not reported any victims orserious structural damages.Nevertheless, several governmentagencies and private businesses in thecapital evacuated their buildings Mondayin fear of aftershocks.The quake was also felt in Guatemala,where it registered as a 5.1-magnitudequake. No damages or victims werereported there, either.Two massive quakes rocked ElSalvador in January and February 2001,killing thousands. (TT, Jan. 19, Feb. 26,2001).