The US Geological Survey said the evening quake struck at a depth of 88 kilometres (55 miles), with its epicentre in a remote, sparsely populated region 85 kilometres east of Imphal in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

The force of the quake caused frightened residents in Imphal to run into the streets.

"Our building was shaking badly and it seemed to last for more than a minute," local journalist Pradip Phanjoubam told AFP by phone.

"People ran out of their homes and out of our offices as well," said Phanjoubam, editor of the Imphal Free Press, a mass circulation English daily.

An officer in the city's police control room, T. Singh, said they were monitoring the situation but had yet to receive any specific news from the area around the epicentre.

"For the moment, there are no reports of any casualties or damage to properties," Singh said.

Strong tremors were felt in Guwahati, the main city in nearby Assam state, about 450 kilometers away.

The Myanmar side of the border is also an area of few people or buildings.

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