Major 7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Chile

WASHINGTON: A major earthquake of 7.2 magnitude hit central Chile on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicenter was 60 miles (96 km) northwest of Temuco at a depth of 20.5 miles, it said.

"No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical and tsunami data," said the Hawaii-based Tsunami Center.

Chile, the world's top copper producer, has seen its economy surge on the heavy spending to rebuild cities ravaged by a quake in February last year and record prices for its main export.