A moderately-strong earthquake has rattled much of north-central Italy, including Milan skyscrapers, but first reports indicate there are no injuries or major damage.

Italy's National Institute of Geology said the 4.8 magnitude quake struck shortly before 4pm.

Institute official Alberto Michelini told Sky TG24 TV the quake's epicentre was 30 kms north of Viareggio, a Tuscan sea resort, and was most strongly felt in the regions of Tuscany and Emiilia Romagna.

People in Milan skyscrapers and others in the Tuscan capital of Florence and in Bologna reporting feeling the quake.

Italy is quite earthquake-prone. More than 300 people were killed in a 2009 earthquake in L'Aquila in central Italy.

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