1 month ago
5
A massive earthquake struck Argentina (Image: Getty/ USGS)
A huge 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Argentina on Friday (May 2). The tremor hit in the Drake Passage, 136 miles south of Ushuaia, in southern Argentina, just before 1pm UTC, 9am local time. The earthquake was at a depth of 6.21 miles.
The earthquake was followed just minutes later by a tsunami alert, with people being urged to move away from the coast and reach a higher place. The alert for "hazardous waves", an message by the US Tsunami Warning System reads, is in place for coasts located within 186 miles of the earthquake epicentre - including southern Argentina and Chile.
A huge 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck Argentina on Friday (May 2). (Image: USGS)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
As for estimated times of arrival, it may differ and the initial wave may not be the largest. The alert says that the ETA for Puerto Williams in Chile is 18:55 UTC on Friday.
Videos appearing on social media show the tsunami warning sirens have been activated in Puerto Williams, with residents fleeing to safety. Residents in Patagonia have also shared videos of the tsunami evacuation alert that has arrived on their phones.
The entire southern coastal region of Chile is to be evacuated in response, the Chilean National Disaster Prevention and Response Service has announced.
The alert recommends that government agencies responsible for threatened coastal areas should take action to inform and instruct any coastal populations at risk, in accordance with their own evaluation, procedures and the level of threat. Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities, it adds.
The next message will be issued in an hour, the US Tsunami Warning System has said, or sooner if the situation warrants.
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
For the latest news and breaking news visit: /news
Stay up to date with all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.
Follow our social media accounts here on facebook.com/DailyExpress and @daily_express
English (US) · 