6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes Nicaragua

A strong earthquake damaged dozens of houses in western Nicaragua on Thursday, and authorities said that at least 23 people were injured by falling ceilings, beams and walls in one town.

The 6.1-magnitude quake caused panicked Nicaraguans to run into the streets and callers to local radio stations complained that electricity and water services had been disrupted in their areas.

Apparently hardest hit was the town of Nagarote, along with the communities around it, where more than 100 houses were damaged, said Guillermo Gonzalez, director of the disaster prevention agency. Nagarote is located about 30 miles (50 kilometres) northwest of the capital, Managua.

Mr. Gonzalez said that at least 23 people were injured by falling walls, ceilings and other objects. Three of the injured were taken to a Managua hospital.

Mr. Gonzalez said that two houses were damaged in Managua and landslides had blocked two highways south of the capital.

Authorities suspended classes on Friday in the cities of Leon and Managua.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 5-27 p.m. local time (23-27 GMT), and was centred about 11 miles (18 kilometres) southeast of the city of Larreynaga. It had a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometres).

Nicaraguans reported feeling a strong aftershock minutes later that the USGS said was a 5.1-magnitude quake centred 3 miles (5 kilometres) west of Ciudad Sandino.

6.1-magnitude earthquake shakes Nicaragua

A strong earthquake damaged dozens of houses in western Nicaragua on Thursday, and authorities said that at least 23 people were injured by falling ceilings, beams and walls in one town.

The 6.1-magnitude quake caused panicked Nicaraguans to run into the streets and callers to local radio stations complained that electricity and water services had been disrupted in their areas.

Apparently hardest hit was the town of Nagarote, along with the communities around it, where more than 100 houses were damaged, said Guillermo Gonzalez, director of the disaster prevention agency. Nagarote is located about 30 miles (50 kilometres) northwest of the capital, Managua.

Mr. Gonzalez said that at least 23 people were injured by falling walls, ceilings and other objects. Three of the injured were taken to a Managua hospital.

Mr. Gonzalez said that two houses were damaged in Managua and landslides had blocked two highways south of the capital.

Authorities suspended classes on Friday in the cities of Leon and Managua.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck at 5-27 p.m. local time (23-27 GMT), and was centred about 11 miles (18 kilometres) southeast of the city of Larreynaga. It had a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometres).

Nicaraguans reported feeling a strong aftershock minutes later that the USGS said was a 5.1-magnitude quake centred 3 miles (5 kilometres) west of Ciudad Sandino.

Magnitude-5.1 earthquake shakes Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES: A magnitude-5.1 earthquake centered south of Los Angeles shook residents throughout Southern California and sent bottles and cans tumbling off shelves in stores, produced a rock slide that closed a road and forced a brief shutdown of rides at Disneyland. There were no reports of major damage or injuries.

n the Orange County city of Fullerton, 20 apartment units and half a dozen homes were red-tagged because of damage, displacing 83 people, police Lt. Mike Chlebowski said.

Southern California Edison reported power outages to about 2,000 customers following the quake.

The temblor struck at 9:09 p.m. Friday and was centered near Brea in Orange County, about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, at a depth of 5 miles. It was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Ventura County, according to citizen responses collected online by the U.S. Geological Survey.

More than 100 aftershocks followed, including a magnitude-3.4 that hit Saturday morning. The main shock was preceded by two foreshocks registering magnitudes 3.6 and 2.1, scientists said.

Broken glass, gas leaks, water main breaks and a rockslide were reported near the epicenter, according to Twitter updates from local authorities.

Tom Connolly, a Boeing employee who lives in La Mirada, said the quake lasted about 30 seconds.

"We felt a really good jolt. It was a long rumble and it just didn't feel like it would end," he told The Associated Press by phone. "Right in the beginning it shook really hard, so it was a little unnerving. People got quiet and started bracing themselves by holding on to each other. It was a little scary." (AP)