An earthquake of 7.4 magnitude caused evacuations in the Magallanes region and concern in Argentina
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A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook the waters located between southern Chile and Argentina this Friday, triggering a tsunami warning and the immediate evacuation of coastal areas in Chile's Magallanes region.
The seismic movement was reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), which indicated that the earthquake occurred at a depth of just 10 kilometers. The vibrations were also felt in Argentine localities such as Río Grande, Tolhuin, and Ushuaia, in the province of Tierra del Fuego.
Chile activated evacuation alert in Magallanes
Faced with the tsunami threat, the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) issued an evacuation order for the coastal areas of the Strait of Magellan and the Chilean Antarctic Territory. The population was urged to move away from the beaches and follow the instructions of emergency teams.
El comunicado de SENAPRED (Servicio Nacional de Prevención y Respuesta ante Desastres).
"The population is requested to act calmly and follow the instructions of the authorities", expressed Senapred through an official statement. The Navy's Hydrographic Service also reinforced the warning and asked to avoid staying in coastal areas.
The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, used his account on the social network X (formerly Twitter) to reinforce the preventive message. "We call to evacuate the coastal edge throughout the Magallanes region. All State resources are at disposal," wrote the president, who also canceled part of his official agenda due to the emergency.
Regional impact and preventive actions
Local authorities began to assess possible material damages, impacts on basic services and infrastructure. At the time of the report, no victims had been confirmed, although preventive evacuations were ordered.
In Puerto Williams, the mayor Jaime Fernández Alarcón confirmed the evacuation of about 1,100 people, in an interview with Canal América. The situation also caused concern in the far south of Argentina, where the possible impact of the seismic event was being closely monitored.
The strong tremor was considered one of the most significant in recent times in that southern region, and immediately activated the binational seismic monitoring protocols.
