Cyprus was rocked by its strongest earthquake in 16 years on Wednesday, sending some office workers scurrying into the streets but with no immediate reports of casualties, authorities said.

The quake, measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale, hit at 11:25 am (0825 GMT) and was followed by 10 aftershocks before midday, the island's geological survey department said.

Lebanese businessman George Obaji's body was found in Cypriot territorial waters after his plane crashed en route to Beirut, his family and authorities said on Thursday.

The chief of Cyprus' aircraft accidents board said earlier that search crews found wreckage belonging to the small aircraft that vanished on Wednesday.