A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Chile

Photo:Depositphotos

The Chilean government initially ordered an evacuation for the Strait of Magellan which lies at the southernmost tip of South America, but authorities later withdrew the warning and there was no tsunami threat.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was shallow and had an epicenter just 10 kilometers below the seabed. The closest city to the epicenter was Ushuaia, Argentina which is 220 kilometers from the epicenter. This is where most ships heading to Antarctica depart from.

The US monitoring agency said waves of three metres (10 feet) were expected to hit bases in Antarctica and then Chile's southernmost naval base, Puerto Williams. The waves could reach the city of Punta Arenas on Saturday where key waterways connect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

Chilean police forces participated in the evacuation of the residents of the city of Puerto Williams. Around two thousand residents were evacuated as a precaution. Chile is hit by earthquakes very often so the locals do not hesitate to leave their homes in time and take refuge in higher ground.

Chile is undoubtedly one of the countries with the most earthquakes in the world which is why over the years it has built up preparedness for earthquakes and tsunamis resulting from the collision of tectonic plates under the surface of the Pacific.

Source:APNews