Strong quake jolts eastern Venezuela

A strong earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale jolted the Caribbean region of eastern Venezuela.

A strong earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale on Monday jolted the Caribbean region of eastern Venezuela, Spain's EFE news agency reported.

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The quake occurred at 2.49 a.m. and jolted the Venezuelan state of Sucre, the Foundation for Seismology Research or Funvisis, said.

The epicentre of the quake was located at some eight kilometres off the coast of Sucre in the Caribbean Sea, the National emergency management office director, Luis Diaz, said.

There were no reports of damage or causalities so far, Sucre Governor Ramon Martinez said, adding that the quake lasted about 25 seconds.

"The armed forces have been put into service to undertake relief measures," Martinez said.

The earthquake was also felt in the neighbouring Nueva Esparta and Anzoategui states, officials said.