New Delhi, 22 August (Kiran News). A massive earthquake measuring 8.0 on the Richter scale struck the Drake Passage, located near Antarctica between the southern tip of South America and Antarctica, early Friday. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) later revised the magnitude to 7.5.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the quake, which hit the southern part of South America at 2:16 am UTC (7:46 am IST). Authorities are currently assessing the risk of a tsunami in the region.
The Drake Passage earthquake comes just days after a magnitude 5.8 undersea quake hit Indonesia’s eastern side on August 17, injuring 29 people, including two critically. That quake struck 15 kilometers north of the Poso district in Central Sulawesi and was followed by at least 15 aftershocks. Indonesian authorities did not issue a tsunami warning for that event.
In July, Russia’s eastern Kamchatka region was jolted by a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest recorded in modern history. That quake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific, with waves reaching up to 13.1 feet in Russia, 4.9 feet in Japan, and 5.7 feet in Hawaii.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
