Magnitude 7.5 Earthquake Strikes Drake Passage Between South America, Antarctica

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck the Drake Passage, a critical oceanic channel between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, known for its strong Antarctic Circumpolar Current and tectonic activity along the South American and Antarctic plates. The United States Geological Survey confirmed the quake occurred at a depth of around 11 kilometers, southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina, prompting initial tsunami warnings for Chilean coastal and Antarctic territories that were later canceled after no tsunami threat materialized. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and emergency agencies in New Zealand assessed the situation and confirmed no tsunami risk following the quake, despite initial concerns due to its location in the Pacific Ring of Fire. This event follows a recent major 8.8 magnitude earthquake off Kamchatka, Russia, which previously caused tsunami alerts across the Pacific region. No damage or injuries have been reported from the Drake Passage quake, and seismic agencies worldwide have slightly varied magnitude estimates, ranging from 7.1 to 7.5. The Drake Passage earthquake highlights the ongoing seismic risks in this geologically active and climatically important region.