6.3-magnitude quake shakes NW Venezuela

CARACAS, Sept 25 (AFP): A 6.3-magnitude quake shook northwestern Venezuela late Wednesday, following a slightly smaller tremor in the area, the US Geological Survey reported.

The epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 14 kilometers (8.7 miles), 27 kilometers from Mene Grande, an oil town in a sparsely populated area of the state of Zulia.

The most recent earthquake was felt in the capital Caracas, more than 600 kilometers way. Some buildings shook, prompting many residents to leave their apartments, AFP journalists reported.

The USGS said "there is no significant tsunami threat from this earthquake", adding in its latest advisory that "No action is required."

The quake followed a 6.2-magnitude tremor in the same area hours earlier, that was felt as far as in neighboring Colombia and in the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.