Magnitude 6.5 earthquake hits off coast of Nicaragua

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua on Saturday, according to the US Geological Survey.

The temblor was located about 50 miles southwest of Nagarote, Leon.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

"Thank God, so far we haven't heard of any damage," government representative Rosario Murillo told local press, according to Reuters. 

The country's seismological institute measured the earthquake's strength at 6.6 and declared a tsunami alert as a precaution, The Associated Press reported.

The quake was also felt in Costa Rica and El Salvador, Honduras, according to the Weather Channel.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a statement Saturday saying: "Based on all available data a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected and there is no tsunami threat to Hawaii," reported Reuters. 

The last major earthquake to hit Nicaragua was a magnitude 6.6 earthquake about 60 miles southwest of Granada in 2005, according to the US Geological Survey.

More than 5,000 people were killed when an earthquake struck the capital of Managua in 1972.