Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hits Kazakhstan: USGS

A magnitude 5.4 earthquake was recorded in eastern Kazakhstan on Sunday, the US Geological Survey said.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, which occurred 71 km (44 miles) northeast of Kazakhstan's financial capital and largest city, Almaty, at 0831 local time (0231 GMT).

Reuters reporters in Almaty felt buildings shake for several seconds.

A resident of the village of Kazakhstan, which shares the same name as the country and is close to the epicentre, said some plaster had fallen from the walls of buildings after strong tremors. No other damage was reported.

The earthquake took place at a depth of 20 km (12.4 miles), the US Geological Survey said on its website, www.usgs.gov.

Much of Almaty was destroyed by an earthquake 100 years ago.