On Monday, April 14, 2014, a magnitude-5.1 earthquake hit just northwest of Managua, Nicaragua. This was the latest in a string of earthquakes in the region over the previous four days; the largest of the quakes registered 6.6 on the Richter scale. The Central America branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico confirmed that no Witnesses were injured. A total of 7 homes of the Witnesses were destroyed and 21 sustained severe damage. One Kingdom Hall, a place of worship for Jehovah’s Witnesses, in the town of Nagarote was also severely damaged. As a result, two congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses met together in the parking lot of the Kingdom Hall for the annual observance of the death of Jesus Christ. Over 530 attended that evening, including many non-Witnesses. The branch office is providing assistance and temporary shelter for fellow believers with damaged homes.

Media Contact(s):

International: J. R. Brown, Office of Public Information, tel. +1 718 560 5000

Central America: Gamaliel Camarillo, tel. +52 555 133 3048