SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A magnitude-5.5 earthquake struck the central Chilean coast on Saturday (Nov 21), south of the town of Coquimbo, the United States Geological Survey said.

It said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 5.9, was centred 84km south-southwest of Coquimbo, an area that has been rattled by a series of moderate earthquakes over the past week.

The temblor was shallow, at a depth of 24.3km.