Tsunami Warning After Huge 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Rocks South America

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake rocked the southern tip of South America on Friday, prompting urgent tsunami warnings and mass evacuations in Chile.

The quake struck just off the coast of Argentina, about 124 miles south of Puerto Williams, Chile, around 9 a.m. local time. According to the United States Geological Survey, it hit at a depth of 6 miles and was followed by several aftershocks.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned that tsunami waves as high as 9 feet could slam into southern Chile. Antarctica could also see waves up to 3 feet. Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service predicted the waves would reach cities in the far south and bases in Antarctica within hours.

Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response System (SENAPRED) immediately issued evacuation orders for coastal areas of the Magallanes Region. Footage from the region showed long lines of cars and crowds of people moving inland, particularly in the city of Punta Arenas.

President Gabriel Boric, who is from the affected region, took to social media urging residents to evacuate, writing, “Our duty is to prevent and heed the authorities. All state resources are available.”

Officials say tsunami waves are expected to impact areas within a 186-mile radius of the epicenter. Fortunately, early reports suggest that the Falkland Islands are outside the threat zone.

Chile’s Interior Ministry confirmed that top officials are headed to emergency operations centers to coordinate response efforts. While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, SENAPRED reminded residents to take pets into account during evacuations.

The Magallanes Region is Chile’s largest but one of its least populated, with around 166,000 residents. Its remote location and proximity to tectonic boundaries make it especially vulnerable to seismic activity.

Chile has a long history of powerful earthquakes. In 1960, it was rocked by the most powerful quake ever recorded—measuring a staggering 9.5—which triggered deadly tsunamis that killed thousands and reached as far as Hawaii, Japan, and Australia.

More recently, in 2010, a magnitude 8.8 quake and tsunami hit south-central Chile, killing at least 525 people and leaving hundreds of thousands homeless.

Chile’s location on the boundary of the Nazca and South American plates makes it one of the most seismically active regions in the world.

Officials continue to monitor the situation closely and have urged citizens to stay informed and follow all evacuation orders as aftershocks and further wave surges remain possible.