Honduras Earthquake 7.1 Magnitude May 28, 2009 (Maps, Video)

One killed, many injured in Honduras earthquakeA strong earthquake struck off the coast of Honduras early Thursday, May 28, 2009, causing people to run into the streets in their pajamas as far away as Guatemala City.

The magnitude 7.1 quake struck at 3:24 a.m., collapsing shacks in Belize and Honduras.

One death has been reported by Carlos Gonzales, deputy director of the Honduras Permanent Emergency Commission. A man was killed after his house collapsed in Pineda de la Lima, 120 miles north of the capital.

The U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado indicates that the epicenter was 80 miles northeast of La Ceiba, Honduras, and 200 miles from Tegucigalpa, the capital city.

The quake was felt strongly across the Honduras Caribbean coast. A tsunami watch for Honduras, Belize and Guatemala was issued but has since been lifted.

According to firefighter Juan Sevilla, wooden homes collapsed in Puerto Cortes, 120 miles north of Tegucigalpa, as well as a stadium wall in Comayagua, 60 miles north of the capital.

A major bridge across the Ulua River suffered major damage. A water tower toppled in the town of Independence. Electricity was out all the way to the Mexican border.

Dozens of workers were evacuated from factories in San Pedro Sula after cracks were discovered in the buildings. In the same city, a two-story warehouse caught fire. The roads in several cities are reported to have sustained cracks.

National Emergency Minister Melvin Hulse made a radio plea, “I urge you not to panic, but to remain calm. Your government is monitoring the situation and will be keeping you informed.”

The USGS is reporting that a magnitude 4.8 aftershock hit off Honduras about three hours after the initial quake.

At least one person was killed and scores of others were injured when a 7.1-magnitude quake hit Honduras early Thursday, radio reports said. A 15-year-old boy died when his house collapsed in La Lima 265 km north of the capital Tegucigalpa, the police said, adding that several people were also injured in San Pedro Sula in the north. The quake, which measured at least 7.1 points, was followed by several aftershocks. Following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning in the Caribbean comprising Honduras, Belize, Guatemala and other Caribbean areas except for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. However, only government agencies had the authority to take decisions on official alerts, the centre said. The 30-second quake was caused by a collision between the Caribbean and North American plates, said seismography expert Gonzalo Cruz from the Honduras National Autonomous University. US seismology officials said the quake struck at a depth of 10 km and some 320 km northeast of the capital