A 7.0-MAGNITUDE earthquake struck yesterday 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 8.36pm (2336 GMT) about 210km east of the base at a depth of 10km, 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.

An unrelated 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck near Santiago yesterday night, but Onemi said no significant damage or impact was reported.

Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. An 8.8-magnitude temblor in the city of Concepcion on February 27, 2010 left more than 500 dead. 

The country suffered the most powerful earthquake ever recorded 60 years ago – measuring 9.6 magnitude – in the city of Valdivia. – AFP, January 24, 2021.