(Changes magnitude and depth, adds details)
SANTIAGO, Jan 2 (Reuters) - A major earthquake of 7.1 magnitude hit central Chile on Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The epicenter was 43 miles (69 km) northwest of Temuco at a depth of 10.5 miles (17 km), it said.
"No destructive widespread tsunami threat exists based on historical and tsunami data," said the Hawaii-based Tsunami Center. But it said "earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be be destructive along coasts."
Last February, a massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated coastal towns, killed hundreds of people and damaged infrastructure across much of south-central Chile.
Chile, the world's top copper producer, has seen its economy surge on the heavy spending to rebuild cities ravaged by the February quake and record prices for its main export.
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