An earthquake has hit the popular Portuguese tourist island of Madeira – scaring residents but causing no significant damage or injuries.

The Portuguese Sea and Atmosphere Institute said there was a 5.1 magnitude quake with the epicentre in the ocean, about 45km (28 miles) south of Madeira’s capital, Funchal.

It struck in the early hours of Wednesday at a depth of 30km (18.6 miles) with people reporting their beds “rocking from side to side”.

The earthquake was initially recorded as being 6.1 magnitude before it was downgraded.

Sky News business reporter, John-Paul Ford Rojas, was on the island when the quake hit.

He said: “It wasn’t exactly terrifying but I woke up in the middle of the night to the strange sensation of the bed rocking from side to side.

“I half-thought it might be a small earthquake but went straight back to sleep.

“In the morning I checked my phone and saw that an earthquake had happened with the epicentre not far away from us in Funchal.”

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