6.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile; Tsunami Alert

According to the National Seismological Centre, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile's Antofagasta region, with no reports of injuries or material damage so far.

The epicentre of the quake was 70 kilometers east of Socaire, almost 1,600 kilometers north of the country's capital Santiago, with a depth of 248 kilometers, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The quake had varying degrees of intensity in the surrounding areas.

The National Emergency Office of the Interior Ministry ruled out the prospect of a tsunami near Chile's coast in a tweet.

Chile, which is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world's most seismically active countries..