MEXICO CITY, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- A moderate earthquake registering 5.6 on the Richter scale hit western Guatemala Friday night, causing only minor damage, according to reports from Guatemala City.

    There were no immediate reports of casualties. Local radio said the quake caused power outages in the cities of Mazatenango, Quetzaltenango, Coatepeque and parts of Guatemala City.

    Some houses suffered minor damage and small landslides blocked roads near Colomba Costa Cuca in the southwest, the radio station said.

    The U.S. Geological Survey put the tremor at a magnitude of 5.6,saying it took place around 8 p.m. local time (0200 GMT), with its epicenter in the Pacific Ocean about 39 km from Mazatenango.