A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits El Salvador

A strong earthquake hit off the coast of El Salvador early Thursday, sending frightened residents running out of their homes in the predawn hours. Authorities said a small tsunami was possible.

There were no initial reports of casualties or major damage, Salvadoran authorities said.

"Monitoring of the entire country reflects that there has not been grave or widespread damage," El Salvador's Civil Defense agency said.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.6. Its epicenter was about 17 miles south-southeast of La Libertad, a suburb of the regional capital, Santa Tecla, and it was recorded at a depth of 40 miles.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue an alert for the quake but the Salvadoran environment ministry issued one of its own, predicting sea level variations of up to 12 inches.

Via Twitter, El Salvador's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources warned people to stay away from the Pacific Ocean for several hours.

It reported that seven aftershocks of between magnitude 4.1 and 5.0 were recorded.

President-elect Nayib Bukele said on Twitter that the earthquake was felt "throughout 100 percent of the country."

The earthquake was felt strongly in the capital, San Salvador. People left their homes with flashlights, and power was knocked out in at least some areas.

Firefighters said they were monitoring various areas but did not report any damage or injuries. Classes were canceled in coastal areas as a precaution.