TEGUCIGALPA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and another 50 were injured in a powerful earthquake that struck Honduras's Roatan island early Thursday, the authorities said.

A man works to clear the debris in front of collapsed supermarket "La Antorcha" after an earthquake in El Progreso May 28, 2009. A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake shook Honduras on Thursday, killing at least five people, knocking down flimsy homes and causing damage in neighboring Guatemala. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The quake occurred at 02:24 local time (0824 GMT) off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of the beach town of La Ceiba, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

    Some 60 houses and scores of other buildings across the north of Honduras were wrecked. The quake also caused damages to 42 municipalities in the country.

    Honduran Education Minister Marlon Breve has canceled school activities on Roatan island.

    The quake also triggered a tsunami alarm in Central America and the Caribbean region.