A strong earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale, hit near the coast of central Peru in the pacific early on Friday, Peru's Geophysical Institute said.

There was no immediate information on casualties except for some light damage, the institute said.

The quake came at 5:48 a.m. local time (1048 GMT) with an epicenter 90 km northwest of Pisco city in the central Peruvian department of Ica, at a depth of 43 km.

This is the strongest tremor Peru has suffered since the start of the year.

Quakes are common in the South American country, and up to 78 quakes have taken place this year till October.

Source: Xinhua