Strong Central America quake triggers evacuations

Thursday, November 24, 2016, 4:57 PM - A strong earthquake has struck off the Pacific coast of Central America, just as the region's Caribbean coast is being lashed by Hurricane Otto.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the Magnitude 7.0 quake struck about 150 km south of the El Salvadorian coast, at a relatively shallow depth of 10 km.

El Salvador's environment department tweeted that there was a risk of a tsunami, and the country's civil protection agency said it was coordinating evacuation efforts with coastal communities, and soonafter said people in beach areas should move one kilometre away from the sea.

No injuries or deaths have yet been reported, and tsunami alerts have since been stood down, with minimal waves reported.

WATCH BELOW: Weather Network meteorologist on-the-scene in Nicaragua

The tremor comes at the same time as Hurricane Otto, a Category 2 storm, is crossing the region, prompting evacuation orders and hurricane warnings in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. With strong winds of 175 km/h and expected rainfall amounts up to 300 mm expected in the worst areas, landslides, downed trees and power outages are likely.

Earthquakes hit multiple countries in quick succession in 2016

2016 saw several major earthquakes of note. 

First, a magnitude 6.2 quake in August killed almost 300 people in central Italy. Weeks later, further quakes dealt more damage to buildings hundreds of years old.

In October, a quake in southern Japan cut power to thousands of homes, while another in late November triggered a small tsunami in the north.

And in between, a mid-November quake on New Zealand's South Island caused major damage to the landscape and killed at least two people.

SOURCE: Reuters