EVANSVILLE, Ind.?A moderate earthquake rattled nerves Tuesday in portions of the Midwest and South, but authorities had no immediate reports of serious damage.

The quake, which struck at 12:37 p.m. CDT, registered a magnitude of 5.0, said John Bellini of the U.S. Geological Survey in Golden, Colo.

The epicenter was 10 miles northwest of Evansville, Ind., near the small town of Darmstadt.

The quake shook buildings in downtown Evansville and was felt in Indiana as far north as South Bend, about 250 miles away. It also was felt in Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The only damage immediately reported was cracked chimneys and broken glass in the Evansville area, said Alden Taylor, spokesman for the Indiana state emergency management agency.

Officials were inundated with calls from people asking about the tremor.