Magnitude 7.5 quake hits remote Drake Passage near Antarctica
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica late Thursday night, prompting Chilean authorities to issue a tsunami advisory for parts of Antarctica while no immediate damage or casualties were reported from the remote seismic event.
The earthquake occurred at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina, approximately 710 kilometers southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city, according to the United States Geological Survey. The temblor registered at a depth of 10.8 kilometers beneath the seafloor in the turbulent waters that separate the southern tip of South America from the Antarctic Peninsula.
Initial Response and Tsunami Concerns
The USGS initially reported the earthquake as magnitude 8.0 before downgrading it to 7.5 after further analysis. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center briefly issued a warning for Chile, stating that hazardous tsunami waves could hit parts of Chile’s coastline within three hours. Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a precautionary alert for the Chilean Antarctic territory, requiring personnel to abandon beach areas and rocky shores.
However, the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there was no tsunami threat to the United States, and New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency determined there was no threat to New Zealand. No evacuation orders were declared for Chile or Argentina, the two countries closest to the epicente.
Geographic and Seismic Context
The Drake Passage is a 500-mile-wide strait connecting the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans, known for its rough waters and challenging navigation conditions. While less earthquake-prone than other stretches along Chile’s coast, the passage sits within a highly active seismic and geological zone where the South American and Antarctic plates interact.
According to the Economic Times, the region experiences significant tectonic activity due to ongoing plate interactions that originally opened the Drake Passage millions of years ago. The area has previously experienced notable seismic events, including a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the region in May 2025.
The earthquake’s remote oceanic location, far from populated areas, explains the absence of immediate damage reports. Ushuaia, the nearest significant population center with approximately 57,000 residents, is located more than 700 kilometers from the epicenter.
