It is common folklore around the world that a total eclipse of
the sun is associated with catastrophe, often with a large or
destructive earthquake. This was reinforced when the massively
destructive earthquake in Turkey in 1999 followed only three days
after a total eclipse of the sun in the same area.
The eclipse today which passed along about 10-20S latitude was
not expected to be associated with any earthquakes of note, since
the area in totality is generally quite non-seismic. It came as
a surprise, then to see a Mb approximately 5.5 occur in the southern
mid-Atlantic Ocean at the height of totality today.
The eclipse area has experienced 56 recorded earthquakes of Mb>=5.5
in the past 100 years, about one every 2 years. The last was a Ms 6.4
in the same general region as today's earthquake.
Hard to disprove these old superstitions when these things
keep happening. Probably just coincidence, but quite an interesting
one.

For more information on the eclipse, path and folklore see:
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/06/18/solar.eclipse/index.html
and
http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/space/06/21/solar.eclipse/index.html

For information on the accompanying earthquake see:
http://www.emsc-csem.org/cgi-bin/ALERT_all_messages.sh?1
(not well located at this time)