Magnitude 7.4 quake strikes off the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina; no damage reported

SANTIAGO Chile AP A magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina on Friday the United States Geological Survey mentioned No damage or casualties have been shared Chilean officers issued an evacuation alert for the entire coastal section of the Strait of Magellan in the far south of the country Due to a tsunami alert evacuation to a safe zone is being ordered for the coastal sectors of the Magallanes region Chile s National Operation for Calamity Prevention and Response reported in a message sent to the masses It also requested that all beach areas in the Chilean Antarctic territory be abandoned Chilean President Gabriel Boric wrote on X that all support are available to respond to expected emergencies We are calling for the evacuation of the coastline throughout the Magallanes region Boric wrote Right now our duty is to be prepared and heed the functionaries In the Argentine city of Ushuaia considered the world s southernmost local officers suspended all types of water exercises and navigation in the Beagle Channel for at least three hours No material damage or evacuations were informed The earthquake was felt primarily in the city of Ushuaia and to a lesser extent in towns across the province the local regime published In the face of these types of events it is pivotal to remain calm The USGS commented the quake s epicenter was under the ocean kilometers miles south of the Argentinian city of Ushuaia