(LEAD) 4.0 magnitude quake hits southeastern city of Gyeongju

(LEAD) S Korea-earthquake

(LEAD) 4.0 magnitude quake hits southeastern city of Gyeongju

(ATTN: UPDATES with more info throughout)

SEOUL, Nov. 30 (Yonhap) -- A 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern city of Gyeongju early Thursday, the state weather agency said, but no damage has been reported.

The quake struck the city, 277 km southeast of Seoul, at around 4:55 a.m. at an estimated depth of 12 km, and five aftershocks followed until 5:50 a.m., according to the Korea Meteorological Administration.

It was the second-strongest quake to occur on the Korean Peninsula or waters around it so far this year.

Fire authorities said they had received 70 reports of shaking as of 5 a.m., but no damage has been reported so far.

The location is near where the country's strongest-ever earthquake of 5.8 magnitude took place on Sept. 12, 2016.

Within a 50-km radius of the seismic center of Thursday's quake, 418 earthquakes of 2 magnitude or stronger have been reported since 1978.

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