San Jose - A strong earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.1 on the Richter Scale, shook Costa Rica on Thursday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage to property.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was centred about 35 kilometres underground and 35 kilometres north of Costa Rican capital San Jose, where the tremor was strongly felt.
The earthquake took place at 1:21 pm (1921 GMT) and caused widespread panic in San Jose, with residents rushing out of shaking buildings.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.1-magnitude temblor was centered 22 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of the capital of San Jose in the early afternoon, near the Poas Volcano national park.
The Red Cross said in a statement that a young girl, who hasn't yet been identified, was killed by a landslide unleashed by the quake near the city of Alajuela, north of the capital.
Local TV station Teletica showed broken windows, fallen ceiling panels and cracked walls in Alajuela. The quake was felt strongly throughout the small Central American country, Teletica said. Cell phone service was interrupted briefly.
Thousands of people ran from homes and shopping centers, frightened by the quake. In the capital, women kneeled to pray in plazas. Others cried.
There were at least four aftershocks.
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