Magnitude 5.2 earthquake felt in SW France

There have been no reports of serious damage after a 5.2 magnitude quake shook southwestern France.

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake has rattled the southwestern French city of La Rochelle in the strongest quake in mainland France since April 2014, the Central French Seismic Office said.

Local press reported witnesses saying the quake, which struck at 8.45am local time on Thursday, had caused buildings to shake, but there was no immediate reports of important damage.

Though smaller tremors are frequent in mainland France, strong earthquakes are rare.