Tsunami warning issued after 7.4 quake strikes off Chile and Argentina

Chilean authorities have issued a tsunami warning and ordered evacuations in the country’s southernmost region after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off the coasts of Chile and Argentina.

The quake hit the Drake Passage, between Cape Horn and Antarctica, at a shallow depth of 10km (six miles), according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

In response, Chile’s National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED) declared a red alert for parts of the Magallanes region and the Antarctic territory, citing the potential risk of tsunami waves reaching the coastline.

“We call for evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region,” said President Gabriel Boric in a social media post. “At this time, our duty is to be prepared and heed the authorities.”

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated from coastal areas, including the town of Puerto Williams on Navarino Island, one of the closest settlements to the epicentre.

SENAPRED said emergency teams were assessing the impact on infrastructure and essential services, although no casualties or significant damage had been reported as of Friday evening.

Footage shared on social media showed orderly evacuations with sirens sounding in the background.

Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) said tsunami waves were expected to reach Antarctic bases and southern Chilean cities in the coming hours.

Across the border, in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in Argentina, authorities suspended all maritime activity in the Beagle Channel for at least three hours as a precaution.

“The earthquake was felt primarily in the city of Ushuaia and, to a lesser extent, in towns across the province,” said a statement from the provincial government, urging residents to remain calm.

The Magallanes region, known for its remote terrain and sparse population, is home to about 166,000 people, according to 2017 government data.

Authorities in both countries continue to monitor the situation as aftershocks remain a possibility.