South America Jolted by 7.5 Magnitude Earthquake; Tsunami Risk Under Review

August 22, 2025 — A powerful earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale struck South America early Friday, prompting authorities to assess potential tsunami risks in the region.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which initially reported the quake as magnitude 8.0, later revised it to 7.5. According to preliminary reports, the epicenter was located in the Drake Passage, the stretch of water separating the southern tip of South America from Antarctica.

The tremor struck at 2:16 a.m. UTC (7:46 a.m. IST). While there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, monitoring agencies continued to evaluate the likelihood of secondary impacts, including a possible tsunami.

This latest quake comes on the heels of several significant seismic events in recent weeks. On August 17, a magnitude 5.8 undersea earthquake hit Indonesia’s Central Sulawesi province, injuring at least 29 people — two of them critically. The epicenter was located 15 kilometers north of Poso district, and the quake was followed by more than a dozen aftershocks. Indonesian authorities confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued.

In July, Russia’s eastern Kamchatka region was rocked by a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful recorded in modern times. The temblor struck 74 miles off the coast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 13 miles, triggering tsunami waves that reached nearly 13 feet in Russia, almost 5 feet in Japan, and over 5 feet in Hawaii.

Seismologists warn that the recent series of strong quakes highlight the persistent vulnerability of tectonically active regions across the Pacific and South America, where even minor shifts in geological plates can have devastating consequences.