6.9 quake, powerful aftershocks strike off Chilean coast

A 6.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Chile, some 100 kilometers west of Coquimbo, according to USGS.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at a depth of just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey, which initially reported it as having a magnitude 6.6.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that based on all available data they have received, there is no threat of a tsunami.

There were no immediate reports of any injuries or damage having occurred to local buildings. Chile’s Navy confirmed that the parameters of the quake did not suggest a possible threat of a tsunami occurring.

The quake affected the same region as the deadly 8.3-magnitude earthquake in September, which killed at least 15 and forced over one million people to evacuate their homes, triggering tsunami warnings in California and Hawaii.

READ MORE: Huge 8.3 quake, over two dozen aftershocks shake Chile, trigger tsunami waves

Chile has a long history of major quakes, including the strongest recorded in recent history. At least 1,655 people were killed and 3,000 injured in the Great Chilean Earthquake of 1960.