Authorities respond efficiently as thousands evacuate to safeguard against a potential tsunami threat.
**Tsunami Warning Prompts Evacuations in Southern Chile and Argentina**
**Tsunami Warning Prompts Evacuations in Southern Chile and Argentina**
Coastal residents in Chile and Argentina take precautionary measures following a significant earthquake.
Coastal regions of Chile and Argentina are on high alert as authorities have issued a tsunami warning following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake off the southern coast of Chile. Millions of residents evacuated to elevated areas after the tremor struck in the Drake Passage, located between Cape Horn and Antarctica, at 09:58 local time (12:58 GMT) on Friday. The earthquake's epicenter was determined to be 219 km (136 miles) from the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, Argentina.
The warning particularly affected the Chilean Antarctic Territory and the Magallanes region while precautionary evacuations were enacted in Argentina's Tierro del Fuego region. Recorded at a shallow depth of 10 km (6 miles), the earthquake did not lead to reports of immediate damage or injuries. Residents in the impacted zones were urged to remain calm and adhere to instructions provided by authorities.
Chilean President Gabriel Boric emphasized the need for coastal evacuations throughout the Magallanes regions in his post on X. According to Chile's disaster agency, Senapred, over 1,700 citizens moved to safer areas, with 1,000 evacuees from Puerto Williams and approximately 500 from Puerto Natales. Additionally, evacuation protocols were followed by 32 individuals in Chile's Antarctic research stations.
Footage shared on social media platforms depicted residents in Puerto Williams methodically ascending to higher ground while sirens echoed in the distance. A video from Chile's police displayed an officer assisting a person in a wheelchair during the evacuation process. In Argentina, the earthquake's tremors were primarily experienced in Ushuaia, with other towns facing minor impacts. An official from the regional civil protection agency noted that around 2,000 people were safely evacuated from the Argentine shoreline. The frequent tectonic activity in Chile is attributed to the interaction of three converging tectonic plates within its territory.
