Two women were frightened to death due to heart attack when the earthquake broke out around 8:30 a.m. local time (1430 GMT), while the third victim, a man, was crushed when a building under construction collapsed. At least 30 people were injured in the earthquake that caused slight to moderate damage to buildings in the disaster area and was followed by about 60 aftershocks.
Broken water pipes in Samara and cracks in the road connecting San Jose with the epicenter area were witnessed. In San Jose, the quake shook buildings and sent residents fleeing to the streets. Connections via mobile phones and regular phones were disrupted. Electricity cut-off has been reported in the capital.
Casualties were also reported in neighboring country Nicaragua where three women died after their boat capsized from a large wave caused by the quake. A tsunami warning was initially issued after the quake, but it was later canceled.