A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Drake Passage, a waterway between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, on Friday (local time). Emergency officials immediately issued a tsunami warning following the quake.
The epicenter of the earthquake was at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) below the surface, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Its magnitude was recorded at 7.8 magnitude. The earthquake was recorded in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica. The tremor was felt at around 5:30 pm (local time) on Friday.
Chile’s SHOA Marine Authority and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami alert for the country’s Antarctic region as a precaution, and authorities urged people to evacuate beaches. However, after about an hour, both agencies withdrew the tsunami warning. The deep waters and strong winds of the Drake Passage meant that the tsunami waves were unlikely to intensify before hitting land.
