CHILI - Thousands of people have been evacuated to higher ground in Chile and Argentina, after Chilean authorities issued a tsunami warning following an earthquake off the country's southern coast.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck in the Drake Passage between Cape Horn, on the southern tip of South America, and Antarctica at 09:58 local time (12:58 GMT), according to the United States Geological Survey.
Its epicenter was 219km (136 miles) from the Argentine city of Ushuaia - the world's most southerly city. The tsunami warning was issued for Chile's remote Magallanes region and parts of the Chilean Antarctic Territory, with precautionary measures being taken in Argentina's Tierro del Fuego region. The earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 10km (6 miles), the US Geological Survey said.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to act calmly and follow the instructions of the authorities. There have been no reports of damage or injuries so far. In a post on X, Chilean President Gabriel Boric said: "We call for evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region." (BBC)
