The quake, which had a preliminary magnitude of 5.5, struck just before noon and was centered about 50 miles north of the capital of Tegucigalpa, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

“The movement was felt in almost all of the national territory,” said Carlos Gonzalez, a regional director with Honduras’ disaster agency.

Gonzalez said it was felt the strongest in the town of Luquique, where alarmed residents ran outside. He said there were reports of damaged houses and churches, and firefighters were sent to assess the damage.

A tsunami watch was in effect for Honduras, Belize and Guatemala, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

There was a possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts no more than 62 miles from the epicentre of the earthquake, the warning centre said.

Other countries within and bordering the Caribbean Sea should take note of the warning, it added.

“There is a possibility of a local tsunami that could affect coasts located usually no more than a hundred kilometers from the earthquake epicentre,” it warned.

“Regions near the epicentre should be aware of this possibility. Areas further from the epicentre could experience small sea level changes and strong or unusual coastal currents.”

However it noted that a “destructive widespread tsunami threat does not exist based on historical earthquake and tsunami data”.

The quake, which struck at 0824 GMT, was originally reported to have a 7.4 magnitude.

Roatan is a large Caribbean resort island popular for scuba diving, snorkelling and dolphin-watching.

One website boasts that the island is surrounded by the world’s second largest coral reef. Anthony’s Key is a well-known hotel on Roatan.

Honduras Earthquake | Honduras | Honduras news | honduras newspapers | honduras map | roatan is a post from: Universal Ramblings

When creator David Jin came up with the idea, he had to convince the Hualapai tribe, which owns the land, that it would be a good idea. He promised them it would not hurt the environment. They will also receive most of the profits that the bridge generates.

To walk on the Skywalk, you must purchase a Grand Canyon West Rim Package. Packages cost $81.20 for adults, $61.16 for children aged 12 and up. Children aged 7-11 enter for free. Children must be at least 4 ft (1.3 m) tall. The packages include entrance to the Skywalk, Hualapai visitors permit and certificate, rim top narrated transfers, Eagle Point, Guano Point, Hualapai Ranch and a meal at one of a number of restaurants. If you would like to visit the Skywalk without entering the park, no reservation is required. No cameras or personal belongings are allowed on the Skywalk. The Skywalk is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the summer and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the winter.

Sky walk protrudes 20 metres (66 ft) beyond the edge of the canyon. The walls and floor are built from glass 4 inches (102 mm) thick. The glass appears tinted on both edges, however this is a protective cushioning for the glass. This running along the sides can be used as a “safe zone” by scared visitors. While the Sky walk is capable of holding 70 tons of weight (the equivalent of 800 people weighing 80 kg (176 lb) each), the permitted capacity is limited to 120 persons. Visitors are provided with shoe covers to protect them from slipping and to prevent the glass floor from being scratched. The Skywalk was built by the French company Saint-Gobain.

Construction began in March 2004. It was rolled onto the edge of the canyon on March 7, 2007, after passing several days of testing to replicate weather, strength, and endurance conditions of its final destination. The structure was built to withstand up to 100 mph (160 km/h) winds and a magnitude 8 earthquake. Tuned mass dampers were used to minimize vibration from wind and pedestrians.

Grand Canyon Skywalk is a post from: Universal Ramblings