Magnitude 6.9 quake hits off Chile - USGS

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A strong, 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Chile on Tuesday night, but there were no immediate reports of damage, the Chilean emergency office said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake, initially reported as magnitude 6.8 and then 6.6, was at a very shallow depth of 6.2 miles (10 km) under the seabed. Its epicentre was 58 miles (93 km) northwest of Coquimbo and 290 miles (466 km) northwest of Santiago. The earthquake did not trigger a tsunami, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. Chile's ONEMI emergency office said there were no preliminary reports of damage, while Chile's navy said the quake was not strong enough to generate a tsunami. Chile is prone to earthquakes and was hit in 2010 by a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake and in 1960 by the largest earthquake ever recorded, at magnitude 9.5. (Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Additional reporting by Sandra Maler in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney)