A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the southern coast of Chile in South America after which a major tsunami alert was issued, according to the US Geological Survey on Friday. Residents near the southern extremities of Chile and adjacent Argentina have been instructed to evacuate and relocate to safer areas.
Chile’s President urges residents to evacuate
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric turned to social media to call for evacuations, asserting that all government resources would be deployed to address the situation. Clips shared on social platforms displayed locals peacefully leaving as alarms rang in the distance.
“We call for evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region,” Chilean President Gabriel Boric said in a post on X.
The earthquake also led to the halt of water activities across the Magallanes region.
Epicentre 219 km off Ushuaia city at a depth of 10 kms
The USGS reported that the earthquake’s epicentre was located 219 kilometres from the coast of the Argentine city of Ushuaia at approximately 2 pm (local time), also noting the occurrence of aftershocks. It hit the Drake Passage, located between Cape Horn and Antarctica, close to the Chile-Argentina border, at a depth of 10 km (6 miles).
As per local media reports, officials have issued precautionary evacuation orders, urging residents to relocate to areas above 30 metres. No immediate accounts of casualties or injuries were reported.
Tsunami Warning Issued
Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) cautioned that tsunami waves might impact bases in Antarctica and towns in the southernmost regions of Chile in the next few hours. In reply, Chile’s Antarctic Institute (INAHC) affirmed that evacuation protocols were being implemented at Antarctic bases.
Moreover, more than 1,100 residents in the town of Puerto Williams have been relocated to safer areas.
