6.5 magnitude earthquake hits US state of Nevada

LOS ANGELES - A magnitude 6.5 earthquake hit US western state of Nevada at 4:03 am local time Friday (1103 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The epicenter, with a depth of 7.6 km, is 56 km west of the town of Tonopah in western Nevada. The earthquake was felt throughout central California, Nevada and southern Utah.

First recorded as 6.4, the USGS later raised it to a 6.5 earthquake, which has had numerous aftershocks including at least one above magnitude 5.0.

There are no reports of major damage and fatality.

The USGS warned that the area will continue to experience more earthquakes than usual.

"When there are more earthquakes, the chance of a large earthquake is greater which means that the chance of damage is greater," said the USGS in an aftershock forecast.

The agency advised local residents to be aware of the possibility of aftershocks, especially when in or around vulnerable structures such as unreinforced masonry buildings.

According to the forecast, over the next week there is a 4 percent chance of one or more aftershocks that are larger than magnitude 6.5. It is likely that there will be smaller earthquakes over the next week.