Magnitude 7.8 earthquake strikes off southern tip of South America

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Drake Passage — the stretch of ocean between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica — on Friday, prompting brief tsunami warnings and precautionary evacuations.

The quake occurred just before 5:30 p.m. local time (2030 GMT) at a depth of about 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

Chile’s SHOA maritime authority and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a tsunami alert for Chile’s Antarctic territory, advising people in coastal areas to move inland. The warnings were lifted about an hour later after no significant wave activity was detected.

Experts noted that the deep waters and turbulent seas of the Drake Passage reduce the likelihood of tsunami waves strengthening before reaching land.