Quake hits central Chilean region, no injuries

SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct 12 (Reuters) A 6.1-magnitude earthquake shook central Chile today, but only minor damage and no injuries were reported, local authorities and the US Geological Survey said.

The US Geological Survey said the quake took place in the Coquimbo region, 157 miles (252 km) north of the capital Santiago, at a depth of 28 miles (45 km) at 14:05 p.m. local time (1805 GMT).

Chilean officials, who said they had recorded a 6.5-magnitude quake, said no serious damage or injuries had been reported in the area. The plaster on some houses had suffered cracks and some light damage had been caused to road surfaces.

''It's a moderate quake, that didn't end up causing any damage,'' Carmen Fernandez, director of the South American country's National Emergencies Office, told local radio.

''It lasted quite a long time and in some areas it caused a certain amount of alarm,'' she added.

The tremor could be felt in the capital of Santiago where some tall buildings shook.

REUTERS DH PM0128