Cyprus has been hit by a magnitude 5.6 earthquake, the US Geological Survey has reported.
The USGS put the epicentre of the quake just off the Mediterranean island’s west coast, about 4 miles (7km) from the village of Peyia.
The quake was mainly felt in the western Paphos region but also in the capital Nicosia at 11.25am local time (9.25am UK time).
Paphos District Officer Yiannakis Mallourides reported no major damage to structures or injuries, but said authorities were monitoring the situation.
@michelleuk87 wrote on Twitter: “So weird feeling the #earthquake in #Cyprus this morning whilst on my sunbed. #nicosia”
One member of British UK forces said that nothing was felt at the RAF base at Akrotiri on the south coast of the island.
Forces TV reporter Simon Newton tweeted: “Apparently an earthquake here in #cyprus this morning … Didn’t feel anything on #RAF Akrotiri though.”
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage across the rest of the island.
Cyprus state radio reported that the tremor was a magnitude 5.3, at a shallow depth of 3km west of Kissonerga, a village popular with European and British retirees.
USGS initially put the quake at 5.5 but the Cyprus Geological Survey Department later upgraded it to 5.6 and said there were ten aftershocks.
Sarah Ktisti, a journalist living in the region, told Reuters: “The chair I was sitting on started moving and my sister came running down the stairs to tell me the wardrobes and doors were rattling.”
Cyprus lies in an earthquake zone but large tremors are not common.
The highest recorded in recent years was a 6.3 magnitude in 1996 which caused some damage, but no casualties.
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