Santiago, Sep 9 (EFE).- A magnitude-6.1 earthquake on Thursday shook three regions in central and southern Chile, causing alarm but no casualties or serious damage, authorities said.

The temblor occurred at 3:28 a.m. (0728 GMT) and its epicenter was located off the coast, 74 kilometers (46 miles) northwest of Lebu and some 560 kilometers (347 miles) southwest of Santiago at a depth of 20.1 kilometers (12.5 miles), the University of Chile's Seismological Institute said.

The Onemi emergency management agency said that the quake was felt in the regions of Maule, Bio Bio and La Araucania.

The three regions also were affected by the magnitude-8.8 temblor that devastated central and southern Chile on Feb. 27, leaving more than 400 dead and $30 billion in damage.