Strong 6.6-magnitude earthquake rocks El Salvador – USGS

San Salvador, El Salvador — A 6.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of El Salvador on Thursday near the capital San Salvador, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

There were no initial reports of casualties or major damage, Salvadoran authorities said.

The quake struck around 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of San Salvador at a depth of around 64 kilometers (40 miles), according to USGS data.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue an alert for the quake but the Salvadoran environment ministry issued one of its own, predicting sea level variations of up to 12 inches.

Coastal residents should avoid entering the water for four hours after the quake, the ministry said on Twitter. /kga