CHILE (REUTERS) - A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck off the coast of central Chile on Tuesday (Feb 9), the US Geological Survey said.

The quake, centred 98km south-west of Coquimbo, an area often shaken by earthquakes, was 33km below the seabed. It struck at 9.33pm local time (8.33am on Wednesday, Singapore time).

Chile, located on the earthquake-prone Pacific Rim of Fire, is the site of the largest earthquake ever recorded, a massive magnitude 9.5 in 1960 that caused a huge tsunami in Japan.