A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck near Antarctica in the renowned Drake Passage, sending shockwaves as far as Chile. The seismic event occurred at 8.29pm, according to the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
The Drake Passage spans 500 miles between Cape Horn in South America and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, earning the reputation of being the “roughest sea in the world.” Named after the 16th-century English explorer Sir Francis Drake, the passage holds historical significance despite Drake never venturing across it.
The US Tsunami Warning System has issued alerts for potential tsunami waves within 1000km of the earthquake’s epicenter in the Drake Passage. Following the earthquake, the Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA) issued a tsunami warning for the southern Chilean coasts.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 153 miles off the coast of Antarctica, with a depth of 10km (6.2 miles) as reported by the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences.
Reports indicate that the earthquake was felt in South America.
