ATHENS : A powerful earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale hit the Peloponnese region of southern Greece early Sunday, the geodynamics institute of the Athens observatory reported.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage.

The observatory said the epicentre of the tremor, which struck at 7:14 am (0514 GMT), was near the village of Leonidio in the southeast Peloponnese, around 150 kilometres (90 miles) from Athens.

The quake was felt in the Greek capital and in the west of the country, where many residents were woken up and went out into the street.

The Italian civil protection authority in Rome said the quake was also felt throughout southern Italy.

Greece is the European country most prone to earthquakes, with seismic activity here accounting for half of the continent's tremors.

The last serious earthquake in Greece was in September 1999, when more than 100 people were killed. Its epicentre was 60 kilometres west of Athens and it registered 5.9 on the Richter scale. - AFP/ch