Powerful 6.6 Earthquake Strikes Northern Chile Amid Ongoing Seismic Activity

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Chile on Friday, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences. The quake occurred at a depth of 104 kilometers (approximately 65 miles).

This follows a stronger 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit the southern coasts of Chile and Argentina last month. That tremor, centered between Cape Horn and Antarctica at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), triggered several aftershocks.

In response, Chilean authorities issued a tsunami warning for the country's southernmost areas. The National Disaster Prevention and Response Service ordered evacuations along the Magallanes region's coastline due to the potential threat of large waves.

President Gabriel Boric urged residents in the affected areas to follow evacuation orders. Videos circulating on social media showed residents leaving calmly as warning sirens rang out.

Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) indicated that tsunami waves could potentially reach parts of Antarctica and southern Chilean cities within hours of the quake.

Earlier this March, another quake—measuring magnitude 6.1—struck northern Chile near the border with Bolivia. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter to be 104 kilometers southwest of San Pedro de Atacama. Chile’s national disaster agency categorized that event as “medium intensity” and confirmed it did not pose a tsunami threat, though they continued monitoring for any damage.