LOS ANGELES (REUTERS) - A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the Los Angeles area in southern California on Friday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 5.3, was very shallow, only 2km deep, with its epicenter located just 3km east of the town of La Habra and some 43km from Long Beach.

It was not immediately know if the quake had caused any damage.