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Costa Rica earthquake kills two Costa Rica quake death toll rises
(about 12 hours later)
A strong earthquake that struck Costa Rica on Thursday killed at least two people, officials say. At least 14 people are now known to have been killed in Costa Rica by a powerful earthquake which struck on Thursday, officials say.
Two sisters were buried in a landslide triggered by the magnitude 6.1 tremor, centred some 35km (22 miles) north-west of the capital San Jose. The magnitude 6.1 tremor devastated the Poas Volcano National Park north of the capital San Jose, triggering landslides blocking roads and damaging buildings.
Reports say the quake - which hit at 1321 (1921 GMT) - left several people injured in villages north of San Jose. Red Cross officials said 10 of the victims were buried by a landslide at the popular La Paz waterfall.
Rescue workers fear more victims will be found as relief operations widen.
Today is a day of mourning for Costa Ricans President Oscar Arias
The Costa Rican government declared a state of emergency in San Jose and surrounding areas, including Cartago, Alajuela and Heredia.
Transport Minister Karla Gonzalez said the government had contracted most of the private helicopters in the country, which has no army, to help with rescue operations, the Reuters news agency reported.
Reports say rescue workers were trying to reach hundreds of tourists and locals in two mountain villages which have been cut off after a landslide destroyed roads.
Backed by helicopters, hundreds of rescuers, firemen and police worked through the night to try to open up the road to the villages of Vara Blanca and Cinchona, which both lie near the epicentre, according to the AFP news agency.
Widespread panic
The earthquake cut off electricity in parts of the capital and officials reported damage to roads and houses.The earthquake cut off electricity in parts of the capital and officials reported damage to roads and houses.
American Dan Whitlock said the earthquake was so strong that guests stumbled as they ran out of the hotel he was staying in. American Dan Whitlock said the tremor was so strong that guests stumbled as they ran out of the hotel he was staying in.
"I was outside and all of a sudden I could see the whole building shaking," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying. "You could see the pool water moving like a tsunami." "I was outside and all of a sudden I could see the whole building shaking," Reuters news agency quoted him as saying.
"Today is a day of mourning for Costa Ricans," President Oscar Arias said at a news conference.
"These losses of life fill us with pain; our prayers will be for their families," Arias added, noting that "hundreds of families had seen serious damage to their homes."
The president is due to visit the earthquake zone.
The US Geological Survey said the tremor was centred some 35km (22 miles) north-west of San Jose.
Costa Rica is located on the Pacific Ring, which forms a belt of seismic activity along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.Costa Rica is located on the Pacific Ring, which forms a belt of seismic activity along the edge of the Pacific Ocean.