Large quake in Panama damages buildings

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake has rattled southwest Panama and central Costa Rica, damaging some buildings but there were no initial reports of any deaths.

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake has shaken homes in southwest Panama near the border with Costa Rica, damaging some buildings, but there are no immediate reports of fatalities, authorities say.

The quake struck on Sunday about 7km southeast of Plaza de Caisan, Panama, at a depth of 37.3km , the US Geological Survey reported.

Panamanian authorities said there was no tsunami alert from the quake.

A police spokeswoman from Puerto Armuelles, Panama, a port near the epicentre of the quake, said according to initial reports, some local buildings were damaged but there were no fatalities.

There were no immediate reports of damage from Costa Rica, where the quake was felt in the centre of the country.

Panama's firefighting association said on Twitter it had received reports of the ground shaking from residents in different regions of the country, and urged calm.