Earthquake rattles Bulgarian capital

Minor damage in the wake of a 5.6 magnitude earthquake that hit Bulgaria's capital Sofia early on Tuesday.

The quake, which occurred at 3 a.m. local time, shook apartment buildings and rattled windows, but caused no casualties and only minor destruction.

But local residents rushed from buildings as the quake hit, fearing for their safety.

(SOUNDBITE)(Bulgarian) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN, SAYING:

"I couldn't react, just grabbed the children and ran into the street. We live on the second floor, but the quake was so strong that the bed was jumping out of the room."

The U.S. Geological Survey said the tremor was centered about 14 miles west of Sofia, and occurred at the relatively shallow depth of 5.8 miles.

An official near the quake's epicentre said several chimneys collapsed and one old house crumbled to the ground.

The country of fewer than 8 million people lies in Europe's earthquake-prone Balkan region, and borders the Black Sea.

Travis Brecher, Reuters