A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has hit central Greece with tremors felt as far as 130km away in Athens.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries authorities said after it struck at 12.46pm local time.

The earthquake's epicentre was 8km (5miles) southwest of the town of Galaxidi near the seaside town of Itea, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute, an area which has experience tremors before.

It had a depth of 13.7km (8.5 miles).

But the jolt was felt faintly in the capital Athens, 130km (80 miles) to the west of the epicentre.


One resident who was 51km from the centre of the earthquake described it as being "quite strong and long".

Last October a magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit the Greek island of Zakynthos.

The tremor was felt in Athens, the Greek capital, and as far away as Albania, Italy, Libya and Malta.

Greece lies in an especially earthquake-prone region and quakes of such magnitude are not rare.

Meanwhile, a magnitude 6.4 earthquake hit PapuaNew Guinea's New Britain island on Saturday morning, 186km (115 miles) east of Kandrian at 11.30am local time, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.