San Jose - A quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale shook Costa Rica Wednesday, the Central American country's Volcano and Earthquake Observatory (Ovsicori) said.

The quake also affected the provinces of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro in neighbouring Panama.

The epicentre of the quake was located in the Pacific Ocean some 12 kilometres south of Golfito, in southern Costa Rica, and 28 kilometres below the earth's surface.

There were no immediate reports of damage, although the quake caused panic among Costa Ricans. (dpa)