BUCHAREST (AFP) - A 5.3 magnitude quake shook Romania early Saturday (Sept 24) and was felt in neighbouring Bulgaria and Moldova, the country's seismological institute said, but there were no reports of injuries or major damage.

It said the epicentre was in the earthquake-prone eastern region of Vrancea.

It hit at 2.11am local time (2311 GMT Friday) at a depth of 91.6km.

A spokesman for the national emergencies agency (IGSU) told AFP that there were no casualties or significant damage.

Romania is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in Europe, with its Vrancea region lying at the intersection of three tectonic plates.

In 1977, a 7.2 magnitude quake struck Vrancea and left more than 1,500 dead.