Published January 24, 2021 9:17am
Updated January 24, 2021 11:06am SANTIAGO, Chile - A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Saturday off the coast of Antarctica, with authorities issuing a tsunami warning for Chile s Eduardo Frei base on the frigid continent, emergency officials said. The quake struck at 8:36 pm (2336 GMT) about 210 kilometers (130 miles) east of the base at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), Chile s National Emergency Office (Onemi) said, urging evacuation from the beach area of the Antarctic ahead of a possible tsunami. The Chilean Air Force s base is the country s largest in Antarctica, and includes a village, hospital, school, bank, post office and chapel. The maximum population in summer is 150 people, and the average population in winter is 80.
Chile regrets panic triggered by mistaken tsunami warning after Antarctica earthquake
Reuters/Santiago
(Reuters file)
No damage was reported from either quake.
Authorities in Chile said on Saturday they regretted spreading panic with a mistaken tsunami warning calling for people to get out of coastal areas following an earthquake in Antarctica.
The interior ministry said on Twitter that a tremor of magnitude 7.1 struck at 8.36pm 216 km northeast of the O Higgins Chilean scientific base and called for the coastal regions of Antarctica to be evacuated because of a tsunami risk.
The ministry also sent a message to cellphones around the country urging people to abandon coastal areas, though the ministry later said it was sent in error.