Moderate quake rattles northern Mexico, no damage

TIJUANA, Mexico (Reuters) - A moderate earthquake rattled northern Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Monday, close to the border with Arizona and California, but Mexican officials reported only minor damage to buildings.

The magnitude 5.1 quake, centered just 4.3 miles below the ground, struck at 10.29 am local time (1:29 p.m. EST), 12 miles northwest of Guadalupe Victoria in Baja California state, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Mexico's civil protection agency in Baja California said the impact of the quake was minimal and reported only light damages to a few buildings in the nearest city, Mexicali.

Mexico is prone to earthquakes, especially along its Pacific coast, but below magnitude 5.5 significant damage is rare. Quakes are most dangerous above magnitude 6.0.

(Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz in Tijuana; Editing by Catherine Bremer and Sandra Maler)