Strong earthquake rocks El Salvador

A strong earthquake rocked El Salvador on Friday.

It was not immediately known if there were damages or injuries from the preliminary-magnitude 5.5 quake, but government officials warned people to evacuate areas made vulnerable by five days of heavy rains.

The quake also was felt in neighboring Guatemala, where 150 people have died from flooding and landslides due to the continuous downpours. The death toll in El Salvador from the rains was 67.

The earthquake was centered 35 miles (55 kms) southwest of San Salvador, just offshore, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado, AP reported.