Picture used for illustrative purposes only.

Cyprus and the entire eastern Mediterranean were shaken by an earthquake early Tuesday morning, reported German news agency.

A 6.6-magnitude quake hit off the west coast of Cyprus early Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

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Meanwhile, European earthquake monitor ESMC said it was a 6.5-magnitude quake, with an epicentre under the sea around 120 kilometres north-west of Limassol.

The strong and relatively shallow quake that struck at 0107 GMT was centred 48 kilometres (30 miles) west-northwest of the town of Polis on the Mediterranean island, the USGS said.

The earthquake was felt in southern Turkey, Israel, Egypt and the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes.

The tremor was felt across Cyprus and around the region with reports from as far away as Turkey, Israel and Lebanon, according to the USGS.

Thousands of people ran out to the street and spent the night outdoors, according to Cypriot state broadcaster RIK.

The earthquake struck minutes after 01:00 GMT in the early hours of the morning and was felt in southern Turkey, Israel, Egypt and the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes, the broadcaster reported.

It shook buildings in the capital Nicosia, 130 km away, and the few people who were awake went out into the streets.

"It was frightening. The whole building was shaking endlessly," one Nicosia resident told AFP. "I thought it will never end."

The quake also startled people on the south of the island.