Washington, August 22 (HS): A powerful earthquake jolted the remote Drake Passage near South America late Thursday night. Initial reports put the magnitude at 8, but the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) later revised it to 7.5. The tremor struck at a shallow depth of 10.8 kilometers, with its epicenter in the Drake Passage — the stretch of water between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula.
According to The New York Times, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System ruled out any threat to the United States, though the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) briefly issued an alert for parts of Chile. The PTWC said hazardous waves could reach some sections of Chile’s coast within three hours. In response, the Chilean government extended advisories to its Antarctic bases for possible tsunami activity.
The quake occurred at 11:16 p.m. Argentina time, about 710 kilometers southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city. So far, there have been no reports of damage or casualties, though the region’s remoteness makes assessments difficult.
The Drake Passage is a notorious maritime corridor connecting the South Atlantic and South Pacific oceans, often considered one of the world’s roughest seas.
Storm Erin Batters U.S. East Coast with High Surf
In a separate development, The New York Times reported that Tropical Storm Erin is churning up strong waves along the U.S. East Coast. The storm, currently 285 miles east of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is pushing four-foot swells onto beaches.
New York City authorities have extended their swimming ban at public beaches through Friday as a precaution, following earlier restrictions on Wednesday and Thursday. Coastal flood warnings are in effect from the Carolinas up to coastal Connecticut. Meteorologists expect Erin to weaken as it veers northeast into the Atlantic over the next 24 hours, though its impact on shorelines in the U.S. Northeast could continue into Saturday.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
