(AP) - A 5.3-magnitude earthquake has struck the southern coast of the Dominican Republic without causing any reported damage or loss of life.

Local rescue officials and the U.S. Geological Survey say the earthquake struck at 5:35 a.m. local time Thursday, and its epicenter was six miles deep in Ocoa province, 34 miles west of the capital of Santa Domingo.

Rescue official Juan Manuel Mendez says his group has not received reports of damages or of people hurt and has not issued any tsunami warning. Mendez says there were reports of hundreds of frightened people rushing out of their houses in various cities, including Santo Domingo.