Chile Issues Tsunami Warning After 7.5-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Coast

 Chile’s National Seismological Center reported a 7.5-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Antofagasta on May 1, 2025, prompting a tsunami warning for 1,000 kilometers of coastline. The quake, at a depth of 20 kilometers, struck at 4:17 a.m. local time, 50 kilometers southwest of Mejillones, a port city of 10,000.

 The navy’s Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service issued the alert, evacuating 200,000 residents from low-lying areas in Antofagasta, Atacama, and Coquimbo regions. Waves up to 1.5 meters were predicted, with minor flooding reported in Tocopilla by 6 a.m.

The government deployed 5,000 troops and 20 helicopters for rescue operations, with $2 million allocated for emergency shelters housing 50,000. No fatalities were reported, but 300 homes and 15 roads sustained damage, costing $10 million. Power outages affected 80,000 households, and a copper mine, producing 5% of Chile’s $50 billion export, halted operations. The warning was lifted at 8 a.m. after tsunami risks subsided, but aftershocks, including a 6.2-magnitude tremor, kept authorities on alert.

Chile, on the Pacific Ring of Fire, faces 7% of global seismic activity, with 1,000 quakes annually. The 2010 8.8-magnitude disaster, killing 525, led to a $1 billion early-warning system, credited for rapid response. However, 30% of coastal infrastructure remains vulnerable, per 2024 audits. President Gabriel Boric, addressing the nation, urged preparedness, noting 60% of Chileans live in high-risk zones. The event disrupted 20% of Antofagasta’s fishing industry, impacting 5,000 jobs, and sparked debate over $500 million in delayed retrofitting funds.