San Juan, Puerto Rico – A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Southern Drake Passage late Thursday night, prompting widespread tsunami monitoring from Chile to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The initial quake was recorded at 10:16 p.m. AST and reached a shallow depth of 10.8 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued multiple bulletins overnight, confirming no tsunami threat to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or British Virgin Islands. However, residents were advised to remain cautious near the coast due to potential minor sea-level fluctuations. The PTWC noted that hazardous tsunami waves remain possible along portions of the Chilean coast within three hours of the quake’s origin.
Based on updated seismic data, the quake’s epicenter was located at 60.4°S, 62.0°W in the remote Drake Passage—a tectonically active region between South America and Antarctica. Despite its strength, the USGS’s PAGER system rated potential fatalities and economic losses as low (green status), suggesting minimal local impact due to the quake’s offshore location.
While there’s no immediate danger to the Caribbean, officials urge coastal populations across South America to stay alert for additional tsunami messages and follow local agency instructions.
