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A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 magnitude struck the Drake Passage between Cape Horn and Antarctica on Friday, prompting Chilean authorities to issue widespread evacuation orders for coastal regions in the country's far south.
The shallow tremor, which occurred at a depth of just 10 kilometers (6 miles), led the Chilean National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response to order evacuations along the entire coastal section of the Strait of Magellan due to tsunami concerns. The evacuation order also extended to beach areas in Chile's Antarctic Territory in the Magallanes Region.
"We call for evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region," Chilean President Gabriel Boric wrote on social media. "At this time, our duty is to be prepared and heed the authorities."
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the earthquake's magnitude and location. While Chilean officials acted swiftly to protect coastal populations, Argentina, which also borders the affected area, had not issued similar tsunami warnings in the immediate aftermath.
Magallanes, Chile's southernmost and geographically largest region, is home to approximately 166,000 residents according to 2017 government figures, making it one of the country's least populated areas.
Initial reports indicated no casualties or significant damage, though President Boric emphasized that all of the country's resources were available to respond to the emergency situation.
The earthquake struck in a seismically active region where the South American continent narrows between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans before giving way to the frigid waters that eventually lead to Antarctica.
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