Strong earthquake off Guatemala-Mexico coast

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck in the Pacific near Guatemala's border with Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.

The quake was 40 km south west of the Mexican city of Tapachula, on the border with Guatemala, with a depth of around 75 km.

Earthquakes of magnitude above 6.0 can cause widespread damage in populated areas, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to a spokesman for the Guatemalan emergency services.

A Reuters reporter in Guatemala City said he felt shaking for 30 seconds. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it did not expect a tsunami but noted that quakes of this size can sometimes generate localized sea surges.

Heavy rain in recent weeks has left rural parts of Guatemala prone to mudslides.

The quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.7.