SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - A strong earthquake hit the Dominican Republic on Monday, frightening tourists and shaking areas as far away as Puerto Rico. There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage.
The earthquake struck just after midnight with a magnitude of 6.5. Its epicenter was located about six miles south of Puerto Plata, a resort town on the Dominican Republic's northern coast, said Christa von Hillebrandt, director of the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.
"It was a strong earthquake but we've only gotten reports of things falling off shelves - no injuries," she said. "This is the type of shallow quake, however, where there will likely be aftershocks felt."
Police in Puerto Plata said Monday there were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage but patients were being moved out of a damaged wing of the main hospital in Santiago, a town south of Puerto Plata.
The earthquake was felt as far away as western Puerto Rico, about 220 miles to the east.
"The earthquake was strong and shook the hotel but there's no serious damage here or on the street," said Salvador Roheleo, a manager at the Puerto Plata Beach Resort. "We just have a lot of nervous guests."
"It woke everyone in the house up and it was scary," said Maria Vargas, 45, over the telephone in her home outside Puerto Plata. "A lot of things fell but everything looks all right. There's not a lot of damage."