Monday January 17 6:33 AM ET

Minor Quake Rocks Maine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A minor earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale shook west-central Maine early on Monday, but there were no reports of damage, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 3:16 a.m. EST, was about 40 miles northwest of Augusta, Maine, near the town of Rumford, said Diane Noserale, a spokeswoman for the USGS. The temblor was felt in Oxford and Franklin Counties.

Noserale said the USGS had no reports of damage. Earthquakes of magnitude 3-3.9 are generally no more severe than the vibrations from a passing truck and may only be noticed by people who are resting.

The quake was the third in Maine in less than a month. A tremor measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale hit the Lewiston area southwest of Augusta on Jan. 3, and a smaller quake measuring 2.9 shook the Dexter area in the central part of the state on Dec. 24.

Last updated on October 6, 2005