Tsunami alert in Chile, after earthquake in Puerto Williams: when the wave will arrive at each location according to SHOA
Tsunami alert issued after 7.5 earthquake near Puerto Williams, at the extreme south of Chile: When the waves are expected to hit each coastal town.
A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake rattled the southernmost region of Chile early Friday, triggering a tsunami warning across the Magallanes and Antarctic coasts.
The quake’s epicenter was located roughly 135 miles (218 kilometers) south of Puerto Williams, deep in Chile’s far southern territory, according to the National Seismological Center at the University of Chile.
Evacuations underway as emergency protocols activated
Chile’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA), along with the National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (Senapred), issued an immediate tsunami alert, urging residents in coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground without delay.
Authorities emphasized that this is a preventive evacuation, noting that tsunami waves often arrive in staggered intervals—and that the first wave isn’t always the most dangerous.
“There can be a false sense of security after the initial wave,” experts warn. “But the most destructive surges often follow later.”
When will the tsunami waves hit?
Based on projections from the Chilean Navy’s SHOA, here’s when each locality in the affected region should expect potential wave activity:
- Prat Antarctic Base – 11:35 AM
- O’Higgins Antarctic Base – 12:00 PM
- Caleta Meteoro – 1:49 PM
- Puerto Williams – 2:50 PM
- Puerto Natales – around 7:14 PM
- Punta Arenas – approximately 2:25 AM (next day)
- Bahía Gregorio – approximately 2:26 AM (next day)
Residents and visitors in the area are being asked to stay informed via official government channels and not return to coastal zones until the all-clear is given.
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