A strong deep earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 hit eastern Romania early Wednesday, shaking the capital Bucharest, and felt in parts of nearby countries, including Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine.

    The earthquake was centered about 11 kilometers northeast of Nereju in Vrancea County, or 47 kilometers east of Focsani and 140 kilometers northeast of Bucharest. It struck at a depth of about 81 kilometers.

    The US Geological Survey put the preliminary magnitude of Wednesday's earthquake at 5.6, while Romania's seismological agency INFP put the magnitude at 5.4. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

    The Vrancea region, northeast of Bucharest, has experienced some of Romania's most deadly tremors, notably in 1977 when a 7.2-magnitude quake killed more than 1,500 people.

    The area sits on the junction of three tectonic plates and is one of the most seismically active areas in Europe.

Source: QNA