San Jose: A moderate earthquake shook the San Francisco Bay area, rattling homes and nerves, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.6 and struck shortly after 8.30 am, about 9 miles (14.4 kilometers) northeast of San Jose, according to the US Geological Survey.

Residents reported feeling the quake, which lasted about a minute, as far east as Sacramento and as far north as Sonoma in California wine country.

The California Highway Patrol has received no reports of damage or injuries, spokesman Tom Marshall said.

The quake was centered in the Diablo Range foothills east of San Jose, not far from the home of the city's mayor, Chuck Reed. Pictures fell off the walls of Reed's house, but the mayor said there was no major damage there. "It was a pretty strong ride here, a lot of shaking but nothing broken," Reed told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

"I've talked to a few people, and we have no reports of injuries or damage. There was a lot of shaking, but it wasn't the big one." Rod Foo, who lives in southern San Jose about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the epicenter, said that everything in his house shook for several seconds, but that the electricity never went out and his telephone was still working.

Source : PTI