WASHINGTON (AFP) - A 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile on Saturday, the United States Geological Service said. There were no immediate reports of damage.

The USGS said the quake hit at 1.36pm (12.36am on Sunday Singapore time) at a depth of 109km around 40km north-east of the city of Calama.

The epicenter was north of the Atacama region, where rare torrential rains have caused deadly flash floods that killed at least 10 people and injured 19 more in recent days.

Chile's National Emergency Bureau said there were no initial reports of injuries, "or changes to basic services and infrastructure."

It added that the earthquake did not meet the criteria necessary to create a tsunami off the Chilean coast.

Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. In 2010, an 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck the country's south, leaving more than 500 people dead.

In April last year, an 8.2-magnitude quake struck the northern city of Arica, killing six.