Strong 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Drake Passage Near South America
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 in magnitude shook the remote Drake Passage in the South Atlantic Ocean late Thursday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed.
The epicenter was located about 710 kilometers southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina, at a shallow depth of nearly 11 kilometers. Following the quake, officials in Chile issued a tsunami advisory for certain areas along the Antarctic coast. However, no evacuation orders were announced for either Chile or Argentina, the two closest nations to the quake zone.
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The Drake Passage, which lies between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula, connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. While Chile’s Pacific coastline is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, this part of the southern ocean is less commonly struck by major quakes. Nonetheless, it is part of a highly active seismic and geological zone.
Authorities reported no immediate damage or casualties due to the earthquake, largely because of the area’s remoteness. Monitoring agencies continue to assess the situation.
Source: United States Geological Survey (USGS) / QNA
