Updated

A medium-sized earthquake damaged buildings and sent residents fleeing from their homes in northern Thailand early Wednesday, officials and residents said. There were no reports of injuries.

The quake, with a magnitude of 5.1, struck at 12:02 a.m. in Mae Rim district, just outside the city of Chiang Mai, the national meteorological center said in a statement.

Chiang Mai, about 350 miles north of Bangkok, is one of Thailand's most popular tourist destinations.

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The quake damaged at least five dormitory buildings at Maejo University, about 6 miles from Mae Rim, and sent panicked students and faculty into the streets, said Pitak Rajakan, a professor.

"I was so frightened, it felt like a herd of elephants stomping through my house," Pitak said.

More than 2,000 students were temporarily evacuated from their dorms.

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