Tsunami Warning Prompts Mass Evacuations in Southern Chile and Argentina

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake near the Drake Passage has led to evacuation orders across coastal regions of Chile and Argentina, prompting thousands to seek higher ground.

A strong earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck off the southern coast of Chile, causing a tsunami warning to be issued that prompted significant evacuations in both Chile and Argentina. The earthquake was recorded at 09:58 local time (12:58 GMT) in the Drake Passage, located between Cape Horn and Antarctica, just 219 kilometers (136 miles) from Ushuaia, Argentina — known as the southernmost city in the world.

In response to the earthquake, Chilean officials declared a tsunami warning specifically for the Magallanes region and the Chilean Antarctic Territory. Neighboring Argentina also implemented precautionary evacuations in the Tierra del Fuego region. The US Geological Survey noted that the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), and so far, there have been no reports of injuries or physical damage.

Authorities have stressed the importance of remaining calm and adhering to evacuation instructions. At a local level, President Gabriel Boric of Chile urged citizens to evacuate coastal areas in the Magallanes region. The national disaster agency, Senapred, confirmed that approximately 1,700 people had moved to safer locations, including 1,000 evacuees from Puerto Williams and 500 from Puerto Natales. Evacuations were also conducted at research bases in the Antarctic, with 32 individuals making the move.

Videos shared on social media depicted a determined and orderly evacuation process, with alarms sounding in the background as residents made their way to safety. In one instance, a police officer was seen assisting an individual in a wheelchair up a hill in the town of Puerto Williams, which has a small population of about 2,800.

In Argentina, the impact of the earthquake was most strongly felt in Ushuaia, though other towns experienced minor effects. Regional officials indicated that nearly 2,000 individuals had evacuated the Argentine coastline. Given its geographic location, Chile experiences frequent earthquakes, resulting from the convergence of three tectonic plates beneath its surface.