Costa Rica Quake Death Toll Reaches 34

January 11, 2009 12:11 p.m. EST

San Jose, Costa Rica (AHN) - The death toll in a powerful earthquake in Costa Rica has increased to 34 as rescuers intensified their searches in highland areas of central region of the country, according to local officials.

Costa Rica was hit on Thursday with a quake of 6.1 magnitude, which the strongest to shake the country in the last 150 years.

Around 2,000 aftershocks followed the quake and were felt in the capital, and other cities across the country, according to Red Cross officials.

The earthquake struck at Poas Volcano National Park, located north of the capital city of San Jose, led to landslides blocking roads and damaging properties.

Ministry of Infrastructure spokeswoman Silvia Chaves indicated Saturday that around 64 people were listed missing as emergency personnel continued to search for quake victims, according to CNN.

Red Cross officials said hundreds of people have sought refuge in temporary shelters, which have been set up in the region.

The U.S. government has sent a team of 34 U.S. military personnel along with four helicopters from Honduras-based Joint Task Force-Bravo to Costa Rica to aid rescue workers on Friday, CNN said.

The earthquake was registered at 1321 p.m. (1921 GMT) and tremor epicenter was around 35 kilometers (22 miles) north-west of San Jose on Thursday, knocking off electricity in several parts of the nation.