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Earthquake hits Dominican Republic

By the CNN Wire Staff
January 5, 2012 -- Updated 1114 GMT (1914 HKT)
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • The earthquake strikes almost exactly two years after Haiti was devastated
  • There are no immediate reports of damage, an emergency official says

(CNN) -- An earthquake hit the Dominican Republic Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, almost exactly two years to the day after a massive quake devastated the neighboring nation of Haiti.

The 5.3 quake was centered in the south of the country, about 170 miles (270 km) east of the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, the USGS said.

General Juan Manuel Mendez of the Dominican Republic Emergency Operations Center said there were no reports of damage yet, but added: "We will be checking once it is daylight."

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