Magnitude-5.6 earthquake rattles El Salvador

SAN SALVADOR – A strong, magnitude-5.6 earthquake shook El Salvador Wednesday, causing panic across the country, although officials did not receive reports of any injuries.

The earthquake was recorded by seismographs at the National Service of Territorial Studies (SNET) at 17:45 local time, with an epicenter located 40 km south of Puerto de La Libertad, south of the capital, San Salvador.

The earthquake was felt “throughout the country,”  Jorge Meléndez, general director of civil protection, told Radio Nacional, adding that based on preliminary reports from officials, no major damage was reported.

Carlos López, a spokesman for the Red Cross, said the quake “caused alarm,” and in some parts of the capital people flocked to the streets in panic.

With a focal depth of 52 km, the earthquake was caused by a collision of the Cocos and Caribbean plates in the Pacific, a preliminary report from SNET said.