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| Major quake strikes off Honduras | Major quake strikes off Honduras |
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| A powerful earthquake has struck off the coast of Honduras, killing five people and causing widespread damage. | |
| The earthquake hit 64km (39 miles) north-east of Roatan, one of Honduras's Isles de la Bahia in the Caribbean Sea, in the early hours of Thursday. | The earthquake hit 64km (39 miles) north-east of Roatan, one of Honduras's Isles de la Bahia in the Caribbean Sea, in the early hours of Thursday. |
| Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun in Mexico. | Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun in Mexico. |
| A tsunami watch was put in place for Guatemala, Belize and Honduras but was called off after the danger passed. | A tsunami watch was put in place for Guatemala, Belize and Honduras but was called off after the danger passed. |
| 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 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). |
| People in Guatemala City ran into the streets in their pyjamas during the 30-second tremor, news agencies reported. Similar scenes were witnessed in Honduras. | People in Guatemala City ran into the streets in their pyjamas during the 30-second tremor, news agencies reported. Similar scenes were witnessed in Honduras. |
| House collapse | House collapse |
| Among the dead was a 15-year-old boy who was killed when a house collapsed in Pineda de la Lima, north of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, said national fire chief Col Carlos Cordero. | Among the dead was a 15-year-old boy who was killed when a house collapsed in Pineda de la Lima, north of the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa, said national fire chief Col Carlos Cordero. |
| A six-year-old girl was also killed when a wall in her house fell on her in the beach town of Morazan, Col Cordero said. | A six-year-old girl was also killed when a wall in her house fell on her in the beach town of Morazan, Col Cordero said. |
| He added that a bridge which spans the country's largest river, the Ulua, had collapsed in El Progreso in the north-west. | He added that a bridge which spans the country's largest river, the Ulua, had collapsed in El Progreso in the north-west. |
| Carlos Gonzalez, deputy director of Honduras's Permanent Emergency Commission, said at least 24 houses had collapsed along the country's Caribbean coast. | Carlos Gonzalez, deputy director of Honduras's Permanent Emergency Commission, said at least 24 houses had collapsed along the country's Caribbean coast. |
| He said dozens of workers had been evacuated from factories in the north-western city of San Pedro Sula because buildings had been badly damaged. | He said dozens of workers had been evacuated from factories in the north-western city of San Pedro Sula because buildings had been badly damaged. |
| Raul Gonzalez, a hotel receptionist in San Pedro Sula, said he ran out of the building when the earthquake struck. | Raul Gonzalez, a hotel receptionist in San Pedro Sula, said he ran out of the building when the earthquake struck. |
| "I kept going for about a block before I looked back and everything had calmed," he said. "It was really strong. I have never felt anything like that." | "I kept going for about a block before I looked back and everything had calmed," he said. "It was really strong. I have never felt anything like that." |
| Your accounts of the earthquake | Your accounts of the earthquake |
| Rescue officials on Roatan - a resort island popular with scuba divers and snorkelers - said the quake had knocked out power and caused minor damage to buildings. | Rescue officials on Roatan - a resort island popular with scuba divers and snorkelers - said the quake had knocked out power and caused minor damage to buildings. |
| People were outside their homes and being urged to keep away from the shore, Reuters news agency reports. | People were outside their homes and being urged to keep away from the shore, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The Pacific Warning Center in Hawaii discontinued its tsunami alert after 90 minutes, saying the danger of a major tsunami hitting the coastlines of nearby countries had now passed. | The Pacific Warning Center in Hawaii discontinued its tsunami alert after 90 minutes, saying the danger of a major tsunami 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: | 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. | 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 | 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 |