Earthquake strikes off Chile's southern coast, sparking tsunami threat

President Boric orders full-scale coastal evacuation to protect southern communities

People evacuate the coastline in Chile, following a tsunami preventive advisory generated by local authorities, after an earthquake sparked a tsunami threat on the Pacific coast, in Punta Arenas, Chile, May 2, 2025. Photo: Reuters

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Drake Passage between Cape Horn and Antarctica at a depth of just 10km (6 miles) on Friday, the United States Geological Survey said.

Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service said a coastal area of Magallanes region in the southern tip of the country should be evacuated due to the risk of a tsunami.

"We're calling to evacuate the coast in the whole region of Magallanes," President Gabriel Boric said on X, adding that all the states resources would be made available to deal with any impact.

Videos on social media showed people calmly evacuating as sirens blared in the background. Chile's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) estimated that waves will reach bases in Antarctica and cities in Chile's extreme south in the coming hours.

Chile's Antarctic institute (INAHC) told Reuters that bases were being evacuated.