The U.S. Geological Survey says the strongest earthquake in nearly 40 years rattled the southwestern U.S. state of Colorado late Monday.

The 5.3 magnitude quake struck an area in the southern part of Colorado, about 290 kilometers south of Denver. It was the strongest of at least eight earthquakes that occurred within a few miles of one another beginning Monday morning.

A local sheriff's dispatcher reported several homes were damaged and a rockslide was reported near a highway.

Two smaller earthquakes struck the region early Tuesday morning.

The USGS says a 5.7 earthquake struck northwestern Colorado in 1973.