AlQa'dah 24, 1433, Oct 10, 2012, SPA -- A moderate earthquake hit Costa Rica early Wednesday, U.S. seismologists said, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The 5.3-magnitude earthquake happened around dawn local time (1219 GMT) and was centered 14 kilometers north-northeast of the town of Nicoya. The epicenter was about 35 kilometers below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The U.S. agency initially calculated the magnitude at 5.8 but later revised it downward. A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook Costa Rica and neighboring countries on September 5, sending panicked people into the streets and briefly triggering a tsunami alert, but causing little damage. Authorities reported one confirmed death.
