Magnitude-6.9 earthquake shakes Ecuador

QUITO, Ecuador -- A powerful earthquake shook the South American nation of Ecuador on Thursday, but there were no reports of damage or injuries.

The magnitude-6.9 quake that hit at 6:54 a.m. was felt across much of the nation, including the capital, Quito.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered 105 miles southeast of Quito. But it was also deep -- about 114 miles below the surface -- a distance that might have blunted its damage.

Liliana Troncoso of the national geophysical institute told Sonorama radio that local instruments registered shaking for almost 10 minutes.