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Tsunami threat after powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake strikes Drake Passage
The 7.8 magnitude quake hit in the famous Drake Passage between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica just before 8.30pm UK time and a tsunami warning was issued just moments later
An urgent tsunami warning has been issued in South America after a huge earthquake struck off the coast of Antarctica — with shockwaves reaching as far as Chile. The 7.8 magnitude quake hit in the famous Drake Passage between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the strong quake at 8.29pm UK time on Friday night at a depth of nine miles. The tsunami threat was issued about 19 minutes later.
The epicentre was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island at the southern tip of South America in the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region of Chile.
It had a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), the the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.
Officials warned that Dangerous tsunami waves are possible along coasts within about 620 miles of the earthquake, especially in Chile. The first wave is expected to reach Puerto Williams at 10.36am on October 11 and Punta Arenas at 6.49pm the same day.
A message from the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Centre read: "Earthquakes of this size are known to generate tsunamis dangerous to shorelines near the source."
According to the US Tsunami Warning System, tsunami waves are "possible for coasts located within 10,00km of the earthquake epicentre" in the Drake Passage.
Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a statement, placing most of the country's coast under 'informative' status, meaning there was no immediate tsunami threat.
But the Chilean Antarctic Territory was placed under 'precaution' status, which signals the potential for minor tsunami activity.
It said its analysis was based on the worst-case scenario for the event and reminded the public that 'a tsunami can last for hours, and the first wave is not always the most destructive.'
It also warned that effects could have been stronger in bays and estuaries, where waves may amplify, and that strong currents could occur along coasts and rivers even without visible large waves.
The Drake Passage strecthes 500 miles between South America's Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, and is known as the "roughest sea in the world".
It is named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake, though he never actually crossed the water.
The warning comes five months after coastal areas in Chile and Argentina were evacuated when a 7.4 magnitude earthquake sparked a tsunami warning.
Thousands of people made their way to higher ground after the earthquake struck in the Drake Passage between Cape Horn in May.
Tsunamis are a series of waves, and the time between wave crests can range from five minutes to an hour.
Daily Star Sunday
The 7.8 magnitude quake hit in the famous Drake Passage between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica just before 8.30pm UK time and a tsunami warning was issued just moments later
An urgent tsunami warning has been issued in South America after a huge earthquake struck off the coast of Antarctica — with shockwaves reaching as far as Chile. The 7.8 magnitude quake hit in the famous Drake Passage between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the strong quake at 8.29pm UK time on Friday night at a depth of nine miles. The tsunami threat was issued about 19 minutes later.
The epicentre was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island at the southern tip of South America in the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region of Chile.
It had a depth of 10km (6.2 miles), the the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.
Officials warned that Dangerous tsunami waves are possible along coasts within about 620 miles of the earthquake, especially in Chile. The first wave is expected to reach Puerto Williams at 10.36am on October 11 and Punta Arenas at 6.49pm the same day.
A message from the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Centre read: "Earthquakes of this size are known to generate tsunamis dangerous to shorelines near the source."
According to the US Tsunami Warning System, tsunami waves are "possible for coasts located within 10,00km of the earthquake epicentre" in the Drake Passage.
Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a statement, placing most of the country's coast under 'informative' status, meaning there was no immediate tsunami threat.
But the Chilean Antarctic Territory was placed under 'precaution' status, which signals the potential for minor tsunami activity.
It said its analysis was based on the worst-case scenario for the event and reminded the public that 'a tsunami can last for hours, and the first wave is not always the most destructive.'
It also warned that effects could have been stronger in bays and estuaries, where waves may amplify, and that strong currents could occur along coasts and rivers even without visible large waves.
The Drake Passage strecthes 500 miles between South America's Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica, and is known as the "roughest sea in the world".
It is named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake, though he never actually crossed the water.
The warning comes five months after coastal areas in Chile and Argentina were evacuated when a 7.4 magnitude earthquake sparked a tsunami warning.
Thousands of people made their way to higher ground after the earthquake struck in the Drake Passage between Cape Horn in May.
Tsunamis are a series of waves, and the time between wave crests can range from five minutes to an hour.
Daily Star Sunday