A tsunami threat was issued for Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday.
This is a body of water located between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the strong quake at 4:29pm ET at a depth of nine miles.
The tsunami threat was issued about 19 minutes after and then canceled around 5:30pm.
The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island, at the southern tip of South America in the Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region of Chile.
Officials warned that dangerous tsunami waves were possible along coasts within about 620 miles of the earthquake, especially in Chile.
The first wave was expected to reach Puerto Williams at 6:36am ET on October 11 and Punta Arenas at 2:49pm ET the same day.
Tsunamis are a series of waves, and the time between wave crests can range from five minutes to an hour.
The NWS noted impacts could have varied depending on the shape, elevation and underwater features of the coastline, as well as the state of the tide when the waves arrive.
Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service of the Navy (SHOA) also issued a statement on Friday evening, placing most of the country’s coast under ‘informative’ status, meaning no immediate tsunami threat.
However, the Chilean Antarctic Territory was placed under ‘precaution’ status, which signals the potential for minor tsunami activity.
SHOA said its analysis was based on the worst-case scenario for the event and reminded the public that ‘a tsunami can last for hours, and the first wave is not always the most destructive.’
It also warned that effects could have been stronger in bays and estuaries, where waves may amplify, and that strong currents could occur along coasts and rivers even without visible large waves.
SENAPRED, a Chilean public service responsible for disaster risks, has requested people to evacuate the beach area in the Territorio Antártico.
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