South America: Strong earthquake triggers tsunami warning in the south
Santiago de Chile/Buenos Aires. Following a strong earthquake off the southern tip of South America, hundreds of people in Chile and Argentina were temporarily evacuated due to the threat of a tsunami. The warning was lifted a few hours later.
The 7.4 magnitude quake struck approximately 220 kilometers south of Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city in Tierra del Fuego. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), it was felt with slight or moderate tremors in the Magellan region and Chilean Antarctica.
"No critical infrastructure or people are affected," Miguel Ortiz, deputy director of the National Service for Disaster Prevention (SENAPRED), told reporters. Although authorities no longer expect large, damaging waves, they urged people to continue to stay away from the coast as a precaution.
Immediately after the earthquake, President Gabriel Boric urged the population in the region to seek safety via Platform X. The all-clear was given approximately two hours later.
Magellan's government representative, José Antonio Ruiz, said the first waves to reach Antarctic stations were not as high as feared. As the TV channel 24 Horas reported, the waves were only between 20 and 30 centimeters higher than before the quake. The evacuation call was subsequently canceled. "They can return to their homes and jobs," Ruiz said.
The largest city in the southernmost part of Chile is Punta Arenas, with approximately 127,000 inhabitants. Earthquakes are not common in the region, said Punta Arenas Mayor Claudio Radonich.
At the Antarctic research stations Arturo Prat and Bernardo O'Higgins, around 30 people were brought to safety after the initial tsunami warning, Senapred said.
Chile's National Seismological Center reported the earthquake's magnitude at 7.5, slightly stronger than the US Geological Survey. Aftershocks were also recorded.
According to the USGS, the epicenter of the earthquake was 219 kilometers south of Ushuaia at a depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Drake Passage, a strait between the southernmost point of South America and Antarctica.
RND/dpa
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