Update 4:10 p.m. ET: The PTWC is now reporting that the tsunami threat has passed. The organization advises that "minor sea level fluctuations" might be observed along the Pacific coast of Central America for the next several hours.
Original Article: The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that a magnitude-7.0 earthquake has struck 153 km southwest of Puerto El Triunfo, El Salvador, in the Pacific Ocean.
The quake was said to have occurred at 1:43 p.m. ET at a depth of 33 km.
Tsunami waves between 0.3 and 1.0 meters are expected along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and El Salvador, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
The PWTC advises that people caught in tsunami waves might drown, be crushed by flotsam, or even swept out into the open ocean, making rescue difficult.
Breaking News is reporting that the PTWC advises that the risk of a tsunami remains along the Pacific coast of Central America. The news organization states that the government of El Salvador has advised citizens to evacuate areas within 1 km of the Pacific coast and to move to high ground.
No damage or injuries are being reported in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, or Nicaragua as a result of the quake or possible tsunami.
The Caribbean coast of Central America has been battered by Hurricane Otto over recent days, with the storm making landfall at about 1 p.m. today, almost simultaneously with the earthquake.
More than 15,000 people were evacuated in advance of Otto's landfall, which has prompted the declaration of a national emergency in Costa Rica, according to the Weather Network. The heavy rains accompanying Otto have raised concerns about flooding and mudslides, as reported by the Independent.
