Santiago: Chilean authorities have lifted all tsunami alerts and evacuation orders following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck off the southern coast of the country on Friday morning. The quake, which triggered initial fears of a potential tsunami, prompted the evacuation of thousands of people from remote southern areas and Antarctic research bases.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6 miles) in the Drake Passage, between Cape Horn and Antarctica. It struck shortly after 9 a.m. local time, sending tremors across the sparsely populated southern territories.
The US Geological Survey said that an earthquake of magnitude 7.4 struck off the coast of Chile in the Drake Passage, at a depth of just 6 miles. This sparked evacuations due to a tsunami threat, which was later downgraded https://t.co/00i9o1uiOb pic.twitter.com/zfsYoZvnyb
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 3, 2025
Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) confirmed that the quake caused no damage to critical infrastructure and no injuries were reported. By late afternoon, authorities had officially canceled the evacuation orders.
Prior to the cancellation, nearly 2,000 people—including residents in Chile’s remote southern regions and personnel stationed at Antarctic bases—were moved to higher ground as a precaution. Social media footage showed calm and orderly evacuations, with sirens sounding and citizens gathering in designated safety zones such as parks and open spaces.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, SENAPRED Director Alicia Cebrián said an “instrumental tsunami” was detected at Prat Base in Antarctica, recording a modest 6-centimeter (2.3-inch) sea level fluctuation. She noted that coastal variations in Chile could reach up to 90 centimeters.
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Following the briefing, evacuation orders for Antarctica were rescinded, although a state of alert remained in the Magallanes region. Interior Minister Alvaro Elizalde urged citizens to continue avoiding beaches and coastal areas. SENAPRED later lifted all evacuation measures as conditions stabilized.
Authorities have since recorded more than a dozen aftershocks following the initial earthquake, which remains under close monitoring.
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