A 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook Costa Rica at 8:28 pm, with an epicenter approximately 15 km southwest of the Central Pacific beach town of Esterillos, according to the National University’s Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVISCORI).

Tico Times readers reported feeling the quake very strongly in the Central Valley, where buildings swayed and some residents headed out into the streets, and as far away as Puerto Viejo de Limón on the opposite coast. Readers in Guanacaste who sent comments immediately following the quake said they felt little to no effects.

A reader in the Jacó area, near the epicenter of the major quake and two aftershocks, said that people there had reported artwork and other objects falling from the walls and breaking. A reader from Playa Hermosa, even closer to the epicenter, reported that while the experience was certainly terrifying, electricity was still on and no damage was visible from her vantage point.

The Costa Rican Red Cross indicated on its Facebook page at approximately 9:15 pm that it had not received reports of any serious injuries or damage by that time, but that it was monitoring the situation.

The daily La Nación reported that firefighters were reviewing the Mall San Pedro in San José, apparently for signs of any quake-related damage, but the specific reasons for their presence are not clear at this time.

We will continue to report on this developing story. Please send information, photos or video to kstanley@ticotimes.net.