A quake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale shook central Venezuela Friday and caused panic, but no damage to people or property, dpa reported.

Venezuelan Interior Minister Tareck El Aissmi said the epicentre was a few kilometres away from the Caribbean city of Carupano, home to more than 120,000 people and 520 kilometres away from Venezuelan capital Caracas.

Several buildings in Caracas and in other areas were evacuated for fear of quake effects, as the world watches in shock the very severe consequences of a quake that killed thousands of people in Haiti this week.