CARACAS – A magnitude-5.4 earthquake in eastern Venezuela caused no casualties or damage, the country’s seismological institute, known as Funvisis, said.

The temblor occurred at 11:06 p.m. Monday and its epicenter was located 18 kilometers (11 miles) southwest of Güiria in the state of Sucre, Funvisis director Francisco Garces told state television.

He said few people live in the area nearest the epicenter, which lies close to the border with Trinidad and Tobago.

Even so, Funvisis received numerous telephone calls from worried residents of Sucre and neighboring Bolivar state, though none of them reported any injuries or damage, Garces said.

The quake was Venezuela’s most significant since Nov. 27, when a magnitude-5.6 temblor was felt in the western part of the country, resulting in no casualties or serious damage. EFE