UPDATE 1 -- Strong earthquake strikes off Cuba's coast, no damage

UPDATE 1 -- Strong earthquake strikes off Cuba's coast, no damage

2011-09-15 18:29:29 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAPE CRUZ, CUBA (BNO NEWS) -- A strong earthquake struck off the southeastern coast of Cuba on early Thursday morning, seismologists said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The 6.0-magnitude earthquake at 4.43 a.m. local time (0843 GMT) was centered about 50 kilometers (31 miles) southwest of Cape Cruz, a cape in Granma Province. It struck about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

While there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, the USGS estimated that some 151,000 people living along the coast near the epicenter may have felt moderate shaking which could result in very light to light damage. It said casualties were unlikely.

Although the region near Cuba frequently experiences very small earthquakes, strong earthquakes are unusual. In May 1992, 40 people were injured and more than 800 buildings were damaged when a powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck off Cuba's southeastern coast.

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