World News : A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.5 struck the Drake Passage region off the southern tip of South America on Friday morning, prompting a tsunami warning for Chile’s Antarctic territory. Initially reported as an 8.0-magnitude quake, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) later revised it to 7.5, stating that the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 11 kilometers.
The tremor was felt in the Drake Passage — the stretch of ocean between South America and Antarctica, notorious for its turbulent waters, strong winds, and intense ocean currents. Chile’s Navy Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service promptly issued a tsunami warning following the seismic event.
As of now, no reports of damage or casualties have been confirmed, bringing temporary relief to the region. However, experts warn that quakes of this magnitude in such geologically sensitive maritime zones could potentially trigger tsunamis.
The quake was recorded at 7:46 AM IST. Scientists emphasized that the seismic sensitivity of the Drake Passage makes any such event a matter of both regional and global concern.
In related seismic activity, Indonesia experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake on August 17 in Central Sulawesi, injuring 29 people. The region saw over 15 aftershocks. In July, Russia’s Kamchatka region was rocked by a massive 8.8 magnitude quake, which generated tsunami waves that reached as far as Japan and Hawaii — one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history.
