A STRONG 7.1-magnitude earthquake rattled central Chile on Monday, US geologists said.
The quake, which struck at 6:30pm (2130 GMT) was centered off the coast of the resort city of Valparaiso and had a depth of 9.8 kilometers, according to the US Geological Survey.
Authorities urged residents to evacuate coastal areas as a precaution against a possible tsunami.
Chile lies on what is known as the “Ring of Fire” — an arc of fault lines that circles the Pacific Basin and is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The north of the country was struck by an 8.3-magnitude temblor followed by a tsunami in September 2015, killing 15 people.
In 2010, a quake measuring 8.8 in magnitude was also followed by a tsunami. It struck the centre and south of the country, killing more than 500 people.