An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck off Chile's coast on Thursday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, but local authorities said there was no immediate report of any damage.

A raging fire leaped from hilltop to hilltop in this colourful Chilean port city and stubbornly burned out of control in places more than 24 hours later, killing 12 people and destroying at least 2,000 homes.