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Quake shakes El Salvador

An earthquake shook buildings in El Salvador yesterday evening, but the temblor struck offshore and there were no immediate reports of damages.

The Central American country’s civil protection authorities said they were monitoring the situation, adding that there was no risk of a tsunami.

The US Geological Service said the quake had a magnitude of 5.9, upgrading its original reading of 5.7.

A US embassy spokesman in El Salvador said the quake rocked the embassy building and there had been several reports of landslides outside the city.

He said the tremor was not as severe as the quake which killed hundreds in the country last month.

The temblor hit about 50 miles southeast of the capital San Salvador.

Local radio reports said schools in San Salvador had been evacuated and residents had fled into the streets in panic.

Source: AIR