A 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coasts of Argentina and Chile, sparking a tsunami alert.
The quake‘s epicentre was under the ocean 219km (136 miles) south of Ushuaia, Argentina, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).
It struck between Cape Horn and Antarctica at a depth of 10km (six miles) at around 10am local time (2pm UK time), the USGS confirmed.
Five further tremors ranging from 4.9 to 5.7 in magnitude have hit the same area off Argentina since.
Chilean authorities have issued a tsunami warning and evacuation alert for the coastal Magallanes region in the south of the country.
People evacuate the coastline in Punta Arenas, Chile, following a tsunami warning. Pic: Reuters
Chile‘s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) estimated that waves will reach Antarctica and cities in Chile’s extreme south in the coming hours, with bases being evacuated.
Waves are expected to reach up to 3ft (1m) in Antarctica and up to 10ft (3m) in Chile.
People were also asked to abandon beach areas in the Chilean Antarctic territory and urged to “act calmly and follow the instructions of the authorities”.
People were urged to ‘act calmly and follow the instructions of the authorities’. Pic: Reuters
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Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, wrote on X that “all resources are available” to respond to potential emergencies.
No material damage or casualties were reported by authorities in Ushuaia, with local authorities adding that the earthquake was primarily felt in the city and in surrounding towns.
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“In the face of these types of events, it is important to remain calm,” residents were warned as authorities suspended all types of water activities and navigation in the Beagle Channel, which runs between Chile and Argentina, for at least three hours.
It comes after a magnitude 5.83 tremor struck Argentina’s La Rioja province on Thursday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences.
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