Central Chile hit by 7.1-magnitude quake: USGS

The quake, which struck at 6:30 pm (2130 GMT), was centered off the coast of the resort city of Valparaiso and had a depth of 9.8 kilometers (about six miles), 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 center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people. DM