Athens  - Tens of thousands of people were startled out of their beds Tuesday after a moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck western Greece. No injuries or damage was reported.

The underwater quake with an epicentre 65 kilometers south of the Ionion island of Zakynthos hit one hour after midnight and was felt throughout the western Peloponnese.

Television reports showed residents on other Ionion islands sleeping in their cars after the earthquake struck, too afraid to return to their homes. dpa()