A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Drake Passage, between Cape Horn and Antarctica, at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles) on Friday.
In response, Chile’s disaster agency, SENAPRED, ordered the evacuation of coastal areas in the Magallanes region, at the southern tip of the country, due to the risk of a tsunami. President Gabriel Boric announced the evacuation order on X, pledging government support.
Videos circulating on social media showed calm evacuations as sirens sounded. Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) predicted that tsunami waves would reach bases in Antarctica and cities in southern Chile within hours. The Chilean Antarctic Institute (INAHC) confirmed that bases in Antarctica were being evacuated.
SENAPRED declared a state of precaution, indicating the potential for minor tsunamis. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) estimated wave heights of 0.3 to 1 meter in Antarctica and 1 to 3 meters in Chile.
