LIMA, Peru: A powerful earthquake struck off Peru's coast early Sunday, prompting a tsunami alert for parts of the country and neighbouring Chile that was eventually called off.
The US Geological Survey reported that the temblor had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The epicentre was 42 kilometres south-southwest of Acari, with the earthquake hitting at 0918 GMT (4.18am EST) at a depth of 12.1 kilometres.
The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center first issued a threat message that "hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts'' and that larger-than-normal waves could hit Peru and Chile. But the centre then said in a later statement that "there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake'' and that the centre hadn't observed any tsunami waves.