Huge 8.0 earthquake hits as millions in several countries on high alert for tsunamis

A powerful 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck the remote Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica, southeast of Ushuaia, Argentina. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km, prompted initial tsunami warnings for parts of Chile’s Antarctic territory and raised alerts across several countries, including New Zealand, Canada, and American Samoa. Thousands in Chile evacuated buildings amid tremors, though no damage or casualties have been reported. Within hours, most nations, including Australia and Hawaii, ruled out any tsunami threat, the Daily Star has reported. The quake highlights the seismic volatility of the Drake Passage despite its relative isolation.