MEXICO CITY: A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.5 has shaken Costa Rica, knocking items from shelves and sending people rushing outside in panic.
There were no immediate reports of death or injury.
The US Geological Survey said the earthquake was centred along Costa Rica's Pacific Coast about 15 kilometres southeast of Jaco, which is about 100km southwest of the capital of San Jose. The quake was at a depth of about 20km.
Matt Hogan was at home in Punta Uvita, about a 90-minute drive down the coast from the epicentre when the earthquake hit around 8,30pm local time on Sunday He said the shaking whipped up 60cm waves in his swimming pool and knocked over glasses and containers in the kitchen.