And Magnitude earthquake 7.5followed by a replica of 6.1, was recorded this Friday in the region of Magellanin it Extreme south of Chile. The seismic event activated a Tsunami alert throughout the coastal coast, including Punta Arenas, Puerto Williams and the Chilean Antarctic territory, which remained for several hours.
The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred) reported that, after an evaluation, it was canceled the possibility of a new tsunami In the Antarctic territory, allowing the return of evacuated people.
According to the National Seismological Center (CSN), the earthquake occurred to the 8.58 hours (13.58 peninsular time), with epicenter located a 218.1 kilometers south of Puerto Williams Already a depth of 10 kilometers. Following the movement, the hydrographic and oceanographic service of the Chilean Navy (SHOA) issued a Tsunami alert.
Senapred ordered the Evacuation of the coastal coast of Magallanes and declared the state of caution in the beach areas of the Chilean Antarctic territory. Likewise, red alert was established in both areas and it was recommended to abandon vulnerable areas, following the instructions of the authorities and response equipment.
Dozens of people evacuating during the tsunami alert. Rodrigo Maturana / Reuters
In this sense, Noelia Rojas, local journalisthe has assured in an interview for the 24 hours channel that Chileans have A “very good evacuation culture”. “The alert has arrived and people have evacuated in a very orderly way,” he said. Colleges, works and shops have closed and everyone has gone to the areas delimited as safe. Rojas has added that it is a area used to warnings by earthquakebut not for tsunami.
Noelia Rojas: “People in Chile have a very good evacuation culture”
Given the risk, the president of Chile, Gabriel Borichis agenda suspended this Friday Supervise the emergency and evacuation of all coastal areasincluding the city of Punta Arenas, place of the birth of the president, and the largest of the Magallanes Strait.
Several earthquakes recorded throughout the day
Senapred reported, hours later of the first tremor, of Another 4.7 earthquake located 30 kilometers northeast from Punta de Choros, Inside the Atacama regionabout 3,000 kilometers north of Magallanes. In a message on his profile of X, the president of Chile, Gabriel Boriche asked “to prevent and pay attention to authorities.”
According to the United States Geological Service (USGS), the first earthquake was recorded at 08.58 local time 218.1 km south of Puerto Williams (The southernmost city in the world). In this town, according to Senapred, some 1,000 people were evacuated, half of the population. However, its mayor, Jaime Patricio Fernándezhas detailed in an interview for RNE that except the population that lives on the coasthe rest It has been able to come back to their homes. Patricio Fernández has also pointed out the unusual of the event, since They do not have “information on an earthquake of this intensity for 75 years”.
In Puerto Natales500 people were evacuated and in Porvenir and Río Verde about 150. About Punta Arenas (Birth municipality of Boric), no data has been provided. Until now No material damage or affected people have been reported or wounds, and the authorities remain attentive to the risk of anomalous variations at sea level in coastal areas.
About the 15.00 LOCAL TIMEanother 6.3 earthquake 302 kilometers southwest of Puerto Williams. However, it has been considered that it does not meet the necessary characteristics to generate a tsunami on the coasts of Chile.
The tremor is also felt on the Argentine coast
The earthquake has also reached the Argentine coast. Local authorities have urged the inhabitants of the Southern Province Tierra de fire to evacuate. Official sources have indicated to local media that no material damage or people affected by the moment have been reported.
The Ministry of Civil Protection has issued a statement with preventive measures, including the Paralyte all aquatic activity and navigation on the Beagle channel. They have also asked the inhabitants of Puerto Almanzacoastal town located about 75 kilometers east of Ushuaia, which evacuate the place by prevention and move to high and safe areas.
Chile, one of the countries with the most seismic activity
Chile is among the countries with the greatest seismic activity in the world due to its location in the Pacific Fire Beltan area of high tectonic subduction. This intense activity is mainly due to the convergence of the tectonic plates of Nazca, South American and Antarctic.
One of the most devastating seismic events in modern history occurred May 22, 1960 in the city of Valdiviain southern Chile. With one magnitude of 9.5 On the Richter scale, it remains the most powerful earthquake instrumentally registered worldwide. In addition to the destruction caused by the telluric movement, the earthquake generated a tsumer that seriously affected the Chilean coast and crossed the Pacific Ocean, causing damage even in Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. The estimated balance was about 2,000 dead and more than 2 million victims.
Subsequently, the February 27, 2010Chile was again shaken by a strong earthquake of Magnitude 8.8, whose epicenter was located off the coast of the Maule region. This earthquake was followed by a tsunami that affected several coastal locations. They were recorded More than 520 deaths and millionaire economic losses.
