TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras – AN earthquake struck the coast of Honduras this morning (May 29), killing five people and causing an estimated US$37M worth of damages.

BBC News reports that the earthquake hit 39 miles north east of Roatan, one of the country’s Bahia islands, at exactly 3:24 a.m. local time. 

Geologists confirmed that the centre of the 7.1 magnitude quake was located under the Caribbean Sea, more than 100 kilometres from the Honduran mainland. Tremors were felt in dozens of cities across the region and as far north as Cancun, Mexico. 

Rescue officials on Roatan said the quake had knocked out power and caused minor damage to buildings. Carlos Gonzalez, Deputy Director of Honduras’ Permanent Emergency Commission, revealed that at lest 24 houses had collapsed along the coast.

Additionally, dozens of workers have been evacuated from factories due to the extensive damages received by the structures, and the main port of Puerto Cortes has been closed temporarily because of damaged machinery and equipment.

In good news, the Pacific Warning Centre in Hawaii called off a tsunami alert after 90 minutes. However, it warned that boats and coastal structures could still be affected by rapid currents caused by the quake.