WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (AFP) - A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck just off the South American coast early Friday near neighbors Chile and Peru, the US Geological Survey said.

The temblor occurred six minutes after midnight (0306 GMT) about 59 miles (95 kilometers) from the coastal Chilean city of Arica near the Peruvian border, at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), according to the USGS.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert of possible tsunamis in nearby coastal areas, but stressed that "no destructive widespread tsunami threat exists."

There were no immediate reports of any damage or injuries.