Costa Rica earthquake kills 3 leaves many injured.

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"Today is a day of mourning for Costa Ricans, because the earthquake killed three people, two children and a woman," said President Oscar Arias at a joint news conference.

The magnitude of the earthquake was 6.1.

The bodies of two sisters were found near the epiccenter by police and residents of the area. The two sisters were selling sweets near the epicenter. They were killed by a landslide caused by the earthquake.

The woman died of a heart attack.

The quake injured 208 people, damaged some 42 communities as well as electricity networks, and cut off some 300 tourists in a luxury hotel near Poas, according to emergency services.

The earthquake hit at 1:21 pm (1921 GMT) about 22 miles northwest of the capital. people said they had not felt such a strong tremor in 30 years.

It was felt across the Central American country and also in Nicaragua.

Transport Minister Karla Gonzalez said the government had contracted most private helicopters in the country, which has no army, to help with rescue operations.

The emergency commission declared a red alert in the capital and surrounding areas "where serious damage to infrastructure, roads and homes has been reported and some people were injured and trapped in their houses."

There were reported broken windows, and cracks in roads in San Jose.

Costa Rica had over 4,700 earthquakes in 2008, around 60 were felt by the residents, according to the observatory.