But no casualties were immediately reported following the quake which originated in an area off the coast and was felt from the central section of the country to the southern tip, officials said.

The quake hit at 12:34am (0434 GMT) and people immediately rushed onto the streets in the coastal towns of Concepcion, Talcahuano, Victoria, Canete and others in the Biobio region, local media reported.

Some people took refuge in local hills, fearing a tidal wave from the Pacific. But emergency services said none was expected.

The shock was also felt to a lesser degree in Santiago, Valparaiso and Vina del Mar in central Chile.

The US Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.6 on the open ended Richter scale and that its epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Concepcion.

The geophysical and seismic department at the University of Chile said it measured 6.3 on the Richter scale and the epicenter was close to the town of Canete.

A 7.0 on the Richter scale is considered a major earthquake.

TERRA.WIRE