Thousands of residents in Chile and Argentina were evacuated after an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 rocked off the southern coast of Chile on Friday morning (2/5) local time.
The earthquake had triggered a tsunami warning which was lifted hours later.
The Chilean National Seismology Center reported that the earthquake occurred at 09.58 local time (13.58 GMT or 20:58 WIB) in the Drake Strait, which is located between Tanjung Horn and Space.
The epicenter of the earthquake was about 219 kilometers from Ushuaia, Argentina the southernmost city of the world. The United States Geological Survey Agency (USGS) noted the earthquake was at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.
Even though the tsunami warning has been lifted, the Chilean authorities continue to provide alert warnings. The public is advised to remain on standby because sea levels are expected to continue to increase, and monitoring will continue.
Reported by ANTARA, from Anadolu, Saturday, May 3, the authorities estimate that waves as high as three meters will reach the Chile coast throughout the day.
Chile's President, Gabriel Boric, called on residents to immediately flee coastal areas throughout the Magallanes Region.
"We urge people in all coastal areas of Region Magallanes to evacuate," said Boric. "Currently, our obligation is to be proactive and comply with the authorities' appeals."
The Chile National Disaster Management Agency (Senapred) reports that more than 1,700 people have been evacuated to the highlands of sparsely populated areas, including around Puerto Williams and Puerto Natales.
After the main earthquake, at least 20 aftershocks were recorded in the affected areas.
Videos circulating on social media show landslides in Bukit Famantina, which is located in the Andes Mountains, Argentina.
Until now, there have been no reports of significant casualties or material damage.
SEE ALSO:
Chile is a country located in the meeting zone of active tectonic plates, precisely in the Pacific Ring of Fire region responsible for nearly 90 percent of the world's seismic activity.
The country has also experienced a number of major earthquakes in its history. One of the most devastating was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the world.
In addition to the Valdivia earthquake, the Maule earthquake also rocked Chile in 2010 with a magnitude of 8.8 and caused extensive damage and major economic losses.
Meanwhile, another earthquake, the Iquique earthquake measuring 8.2, shook Chile in 2014 preceded by a number of precursor earthquakes and triggered a large tsunami.
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