An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Argentina late on Tuesday, with its epicentre in the city of Tenogasta in the western province of Catamarca, but there were no immediate reports of human or material damage, according to the US Seismological Institute.

The epicentre of the earthquake was in the city of Tenogasta, in the western province of Catamarca, at a depth of 138 kilometres below the surface, according to the US Seismological Institute.

There were no immediate reports of human or material losses.