A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rattled the Drake Passage near Cape Horn on Friday, prompting urgent tsunami warnings and mass evacuations across southern Chile and Argentina. The quake, striking at a shallow depth of 10km, sparked immediate action from authorities in the remote Magallanes region and beyond.
Chile’s National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) issued a red alert, ordering residents along the Magallanes coastline and Antarctic territories to flee to higher ground. President Gabriel Boric took to social media, urging calm but firm compliance: “Evacuate the coast now. Follow SENAPRED’s guidance to stay safe.” Sirens echoed through towns like Puerto Williams on Navarino Island, where hundreds of residents swiftly relocated. Social media footage captured orderly evacuations under the wail of emergency alerts.
Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) warned of potential tsunami waves hitting southern cities and Antarctic bases within hours. Emergency teams fanned out to inspect infrastructure, reporting no major damage or injuries by Friday night. The region, home to roughly 166,000 people, is known for its rugged landscapes and sparse settlements, which may have limited initial impacts.
Across the border, Argentina’s southernmost city, Ushuaia, felt the tremors keenly. The provincial government halted all maritime activity in the Beagle Channel for at least three hours, citing tsunami risks. “The quake was strongest in Ushuaia but felt province-wide,” officials noted, calling for calm as residents braced for updates. The region’s isolation and harsh climate added urgency to the response.
The quake’s shallow depth and proximity to tectonic boundaries in the Drake Passage heightened concerns about aftershocks, which seismologists continue to monitor. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) pegged the epicenter in one of the world’s most seismically volatile zones, where the South American and Antarctic plates converge.
As night fell, both nations remained on edge, with evacuation centers bustling and coastal roads cleared. SENAPRED and Argentine authorities vowed round-the-clock vigilance, urging residents to stay alert for further alerts. For now, the focus is on safety and preparedness in a region no stranger to nature’s fury.
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