A magnitude 5.9 quake hit northern Haiti late Saturday, killing at least 11 people and causing damage to buildings in the northwest coast area, authorities said.

The epicenter of the quake was located about 19 kilometers (11.5 miles) northwest of the city of Port-de-Paix, the US Geological Survey reported. 

Government spokesman Eddy Jackson Alexis told AFP that 11 people were so far reported dead, adding that a disaster response task force had been set up.

The quake struck at 8:10 pm (0010 GMT Sunday) at a shallow depth of 11.7 kilometers.

The tremor was felt in the capital Port-de-Prince, sparking emotion among residents who suffered the massive 2010 earthquake.