This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/8071568.stm

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Honduras tsunami alert called off Major quake strikes off Honduras
(about 1 hour later)
A tsunami watch in place for three Central American countries after a 7.1 magnitude quake struck off Honduras has been called off. A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of Honduras, sending tremors that were felt across the region.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the danger of a tsunami hitting Belize, Guatemala and Honduras had now passed. There were unconfirmed reports that one person had died and several homes had collapsed, but there were no immediate reports of major damage or casualties.
The powerful quake hit 64km (39 miles) north-east of Roatan on Honduras' Isles de la Bahia in the Caribbean Sea, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said. The earthquake hit 64km (39 miles) north-east of Roatan, one of Honduras' Isles de la Bahia in the Caribbean Sea, in the early hours of Thursday.
There were no immediate reports of major damage or mass casualties. A tsunami watch was put in place for Guatemala, Belize and Honduras.
The quake struck at 0324 local time (0824 GMT) at a relatively shallow depth of 10km (six miles). But it was called off after the danger passed.
Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun in Mexico, the USGS said. Rapid currents
People in Guatemala City ran into the streets in their pyjamas, the Associated Press news agency reports. The 7.1 magnitude quake struck at 0324 local time (0824 GMT) at a relatively shallow depth of 10km (six miles), according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The Pacific Warning Center in Hawaii said that the danger of a major tsunami wave hitting the coastlines of nearby countries had now passed. It was really strong. I have never felt anything like that Raul GonzalezHotel receptionist in north Honduras
Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun in Mexico.
People in Guatemala City ran into the streets in their pyjamas during the 30-second tremor, the Associated Press reports. Similar scenes were witnessed in Honduras.
"I ran out of the building and kept going for about a block before I looked back and everything had calmed," said Raul Gonzalez, a hotel receptionist in San Pedro Sula city, northern Honduras.
"It was really strong. I have never felt anything like that."
Your accounts of the earthquake
There were reports of several wooden homes, a bridge and a stadium wall collapsing in northern Honduras.
The collapse of a home in La Lima, some 230km (142 miles) north of the capital Tegucigalpa, killed one person and injured another, a Red Cross official told local radio.
People in Honduras and Belize reported household items such as radios, televisions and picture frames crashing on to floors.
The extent of the damage on Roatan, the island nearest the quake's epicentre, was not immediately clear although one report said no major structural damage had been immediately reported.
A Red Cross spokesman told the AFP news agency that it was unable to make contact with Roatan - a resort island popular with scuba divers and snorkellers - in the hour after the tremor as power lines were down.
The Pacific Warning Center in Hawaii discontinued its tsunami alert after 90 minutes, saying the danger of a major tsunami wave hitting the coastlines of nearby countries had now passed.
But it warned that boats and coastal structures could still be affected by rapid currents caused by the quake.But it warned that boats and coastal structures could still be affected by rapid currents caused by the quake.
Are you in the region? Have you been affected by the earthquake? You can send us your experiences using the form below:
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions