USGS: 6.1-magnitude quake shakes northern Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-6.1 earthquake has struck off Chile's northern coast. There were no immediate reports of damage and authorities discounted the possibility of a tsunami.

The USGS said the quake's epicenter was located 14 miles (22 kilometers) west of Iquique, Chile, and had a depth of 22 miles (35.7 kilometers). The quake hit at 4:54 p.m. (20:54 GMT) on Sunday.

Chile is one of the world's most seismic countries and is prone to tsunamis, because of the way the Nazca tectonic plate plunges beneath the South American plate, pushing the towering Andes cordillera ever higher.