The quake occurred at 12:45 am (0445 GMT) and was the most powerful the observatory had recorded in recent years in the region of the island of Hispaniola, which is divided between the two countries.

The last significant quake there was recorded in 1996 and measured 5.2 degrees on the Richter scale.

The epicentre of Monday's quake was located under the sea just off the northern coast of the island, at a longitude of 71.2 degrees west and a latitude of 20.17 degrees north, the observatory said.