Venezuelans were shaken Tuesday afternoon by a 6.3-magnitude earthquake, according to the country's Funvisis seismological research foundation.

The U.S. Geological Survey, however, said that the quake - the epicenter of which was located "southeast of Yaguarapano" in eastern Venezuela - measured 7.0 on the Richter Scale.

So far, there have been no reports of injuries or worse, or of material damage.

Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol said that the quake was felt in the states of Nueva Esparta, Sucre, Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Bolivar, Carabobo and the Capital District.

State-run VTV television said that risk management protocols had been activated and urged the public to remain patient and calm.

Earlier on Tuesday, a 4.0-magnitude quake hit the northeastern state of Sucre but no damage or injuries have been reported, Funvisis said.

The foundation, which is subsumed under the University Education, Science and Technology Ministry, placed the epicenter of the earlier temblor 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of the town of Cariaco and at a depth of 5 km (3.6 miles).

A magnitude-7 quake hit Cariaco in 1997, killing 73 people, one of the most devastating tremors in Venezuela's history.