A magnitude-7.6 earthquake has struck north of Honduras in the Caribbean, but there have not been any reports of damage.

The United States Geological Survey said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude-7.8, was centred 202 kilometres northeast of Barra Patuca in Honduras and 307km south-west of George Town in the Cayman Islands.

Tsunami threat warnings which were issued in the wake of the quake were later cancelled.

The earthquake rattled windows in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, but no damage was immediately reported.

Firefighters said some residents in southern neighbourhoods fled their homes after feeling the shaking.

"We have reports that it was felt in the majority of the country, but we don't have reports of damage," Lizandro Rosales, director of Honduras' contingencies commission, said.

The quake was also lightly felt in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, north of Honduras, according to Mexico's civil protection director.

Rodrigo Anaya Rodriguez was in a hammock inside his house near the popular tourist site of Bacalar Lake in Quintana Roo when he felt three tremors.

"It felt like a bulldozer was driving past. It didn't last long but was very violent," he said.

He ran to his balcony and saw electricity posts and cables swaying.

The quake was lightly felt in Belize's capital, Belize City, but did not prompt immediate reports of damage.

Belize's minister in charge of emergency management, Edmond Castro, spoke on local radio to urge people living in low-lying coastal areas and islands to stay alert for potentially dangerous waves.

Reuters/ABC