A powerful 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Drake Passage, the turbulent waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, on August 21, 2025, raising fears of hazardous tsunami waves along Chile’s southern coast. The quake, centered 258 km northwest of Chile’s Base Frei in the Antarctic territory and over 700 km southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina, hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which later revised its initial magnitude estimate from 8.0 to 7.5. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii issued a warning, stating that tsunami waves could strike coastal areas within three hours, prompting urgent advisories for residents to stay vigilant and follow local authorities.

Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a tsunami precaution for its Antarctic territory, while President Gabriel Boric urged calm and preparedness in a post on X, emphasizing the deployment of all state resources through the National Risk Management System (COGRID). “We call for heightened awareness along the Magallanes region and Antarctic territory,” Boric wrote. The quake, felt strongly in Puerto Williams and Puerto Toro, led to the suspension of all maritime activities in the region, with vessels instructed to move to deeper waters to avoid potential wave surges.

The event follows a 7.4-magnitude quake in the same region on May 2, 2025, which also triggered evacuations but caused no major damage. Alicia Cebrian, director of Chile’s SENAPRED disaster agency, noted a minor 6-centimeter sea level variation in Antarctica’s Prat Base, with potential waves up to 90 centimeters in Chile. No immediate injuries or structural damage were reported, but authorities remain cautious due to Chile’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Nazca, South American, and Antarctic tectonic plates converge, making it one of the world’s most seismically active regions.

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Social media posts on X captured the urgency, with users like @ChynoNews reporting evacuation notices for the Magallanes region and ongoing tsunami evaluations. The USGS noted that aftershocks, ranging from 4.9 to 5.7 in magnitude, could continue, though the risk of significant damage remains low due to the quake’s remote offshore location. New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency assessed no tsunami threat to its shores, but global attention remains on Chile’s response.

This quake comes weeks after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake in Russia’s Far East triggered Pacific-wide tsunami alerts, highlighting the region’s vulnerability. As Chile braces for potential waves, the incident underscores the need for robust disaster preparedness in a nation scarred by the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the strongest ever recorded at 9.5 magnitude. For now, coastal communities remain on edge, awaiting updates as authorities monitor the evolving situation.

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