Magnitude 7.5 earthquake hits off South American tip, no tsunami risk
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Magnitude 7.5 earthquake strikes off South American tip
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Thursday in the Drake Passage, the waters between South America and Antarctica. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there is no tsunami risk, following a brief alert for coastal areas in Chile.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed there is no tsunami risk, following a brief alert for coastal areas in Chile, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) revised down the quake magnitude, initially reported at 8, adding that it hit at a depth of 11 km (7 miles).
The earthquake struck more than 700 km (435 miles) southeast of Argentina’s city of Ushuaia, with a population of about 57,000, the USGS said. Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a tsunami warning for its Antarctic territory after the quake struck 258 km (160 miles) northwest of the Base Frei site, it said in a bulletin.
News.Az
Major earthquake rocks the South Atlantic Ocean far off the coast of Argentina
Major earthquake rocks the South Atlantic Ocean far off the coast of Argentina. Quake had preliminary depth of 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles) Quake happened at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina about 710 kilometers (441 miles) southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina.
Major earthquake rocks the South Atlantic Ocean far off the coast of Argentina
By The Associated Press
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A major, preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck in the South Atlantic Ocean late Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no longer a threat of a tsunami after an earlier advisory by Chilean authorities for parts of Antarctica. No evacuation orders were immediately declared for Chile or Argentina, the two countries closest to the quake.
The temblor happened at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina about 710 kilometers (441 miles) southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina, in the Drake Passage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake had a preliminary depth of 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles).
The Drake Passage connects the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.
Though less quake-prone than other stretches of Chile’s coast, the Drake Passage straddles a highly active seismic and geological zone.
The area is very remote and there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Strikes South Atlantic Ocean, Tsunami Advisory Issued for Antarctica
The earthquake struck at 11:16 p.m. local time. It occurred in the Drake Passage, which connects the South Atlantic with the South American mainland. No immediate reports of injuries or damage from the 7.5-magnitude quake. The U.S. Geological Survey is monitoring the situation.
The earthquake struck at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina, approximately 710 kilometers (441 miles) southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina, nestled within the Drake Passage—a vital waterway connecting the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans, situated between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. According to the USGS, the earthquake’s epicenter was recorded at a depth of 10.8 kilometers (6.7 miles).
The Drake Passage, while generally less prone to seismic activity compared to other regions along Chile’s coastline, lies within a geologically dynamic and active area. Despite the quake’s intensity, the remote location has resulted in no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
As authorities continue to monitor the situation, the public remains alert to the possibility of aftershocks and any further advisories concerning potential tsunami risks. The earthquake has raised awareness about the geological features of the region and the unpredictable nature of seismic events in the South Atlantic.
Where is Drake passage located? USGS confirms 7.5 magnitude earthquake
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The earthquake, described by the disaster response service as having a “medium intensity,” occurred at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina. It took place near the coastlines of Chile and Argentina at a depth of 6.7 miles (10.8 km) The Drake Passage, also known as the “most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe,” is located between the southernmost tip of South America and Antarctica. It takes about 48 hours to cross, during which voyagers face powerful currents and gigantic waves that can reach up to 15 meters (49 feet) during storms. No evacuation orders were issued in Chile or Argentina, despite being the closest countries to the earthquake. A tsunami warning was also issued in May 2025 after the southern coast of Chile was hit by an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude.
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Thursday, August 21, 2025. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially measured the quake as magnitude 8, but later revised it down to magnitude 7.5. However, the German Research Center for Geosciences measured the earthquake magnitude as 7.1.
The earthquake, described by the disaster response service as having a “medium intensity,” occurred at 11:16 p.m. local time in Argentina. It took place near the coastlines of Chile and Argentina at a depth of 6.7 miles (10.8 km), located at 60.26° S latitude and 61.85° W longitude.
The Drake Passage, also known as the “most dreaded bit of ocean on the globe” by Alfred Lansing in his 1959 book Endurance, is located between the southernmost tip of South America and Antarctica, connecting the southwestern Atlantic and southeastern Pacific Oceans.
According to Variety, the National Tsunami Warning Center reported that the recent earthquake at the Drake Passage posed a little risk of causing a tsunami in the U.S.
Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued a warning for some areas of Antarctica after the earthquake struck 258 km (160 miles) northwest of the Base Frei site, per Reuters. However, no evacuation orders were issued in Chile or Argentina, despite being the closest countries to the earthquake.
A tsunami warning was also issued in May 2025 after the southern coast of Chile was hit by an earthquake of 7.4 magnitude. The Chilean President Gabriel Boric, at the time, stated:
“We call for evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region. At this time, our duty is to be prepared and heed the authorities. Regional and national COGRID (Cogrid of the Nationwide Risk Management System) is underway. All state resources are available.”
Overview of the Drake Passage
KSR listener Cynthia called yesterday’s show after sailing through Drake’s passage.
Here’s what she saw on her trip before she called in with a firsthand Cape Horn report. pic.twitter.com/nXCv2mnmUz — Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) February 14, 2025
The Drake Passage, which is about 600 miles wide and up to 6,000 meters deep, was named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake.
It takes about 48 hours to cross, during which voyagers face powerful currents and gigantic waves that can reach up to 15 meters (49 feet) during storms. These turbulent waters are often referred to as the “Drake Shake.” However, the waves are around 4 to 5 meters high on average, per CNN.
Speaking about the waves, oceanographer Alexander Brearley said:
“In the middle of the Drake Passage the winds may have blown over thousands of kilometers to where you are. Kinetic energy is converted from wind into waves, and builds up storm waves.”
He added:
“The Southern Ocean is very stormy in general [but] in the Drake you’re really squeezing [the water] between the Antarctic and the southern hemisphere. That intensifies the storms as they come through.”
According to the outlet, a huge amount of water moves through the Drake Passage very quickly because it is a part of the biggest ocean current in the world, with up to “5,300 million cubic feet flowing per second.”
Brearley, who regularly crosses the Drake Passage, claimed that he’s never been scared while crossing it:
“I don’t think I’ve ever been really fearful, but it can be very unpleasant in terms of how rough it is.”
It is worth noting that no damage or casualties were reported following the recent earthquake in the Drake Passage.
No tsunami threat from magnitude 7.5 Drake Passage earthquake — PHIVOLCS
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said Friday there is no tsunami threat to the Philippines after the 7.5 earthquake. The earthquake reportedly hit the Drake Passage, the waters between South America
“No destructive tsunami threat exists based on available data,” PHIVOLCS said in a tsunami information released at 11 a.m.
The earthquake reportedly hit the Drake Passage, the waters between South America’s southern tip and Antarctica, at around 10 a.m.
According to PHIVOLCS, it had a depth of 11 kilometers. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA Integrated News