Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hits off Chile coast

The tremor took place at 11.36 pm yesterday, centered off the coast at 42 kilometers west of Valparaiso, according to the US Geological Survey.

Santiago, Apr 23: A magnitude 5.9 earthquake rocked central Chile, monitors said, though there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The tremor took place at 11.36 pm on Saturday, centered off the coast at 42 kilometers west of Valparaiso, according to the US Geological Survey. It had a depth of 9.8 kilometers. Chile's National Emergency Office, or ONEMI, estimated its strength at 6.1 on the Richter scale.

The Navy's hydrographic and oceanographic service found that the quake "has the characteristics to generate a tsunami". However, no warning was issued by the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. A series of smaller earthquakes in Valparaiso in the evening hours rattled locals.

PTI