Panama City  - A powerful earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale damaged homes along the border between Costa Rica and Panama on Wednesday, civil protection officials in Panama said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) said.

In a statement, officials said seven homes were damaged and one house collapsed in Baru district, in the western Panamanian province of Chiriqui. A school in the banana-growing community of Puerto Armuelles was also damaged.

According to the Geoscience Institute at Panama University, the earthquake took place 10 kilometres below ground. The US Geological Survey traced its epicentre to 380 kilometres west of Panama City. (dpa)