The warning was in parts of the southernmost Magalan region after a tremor that struck Argentina’s coast.
Chilean authorities have downgraded the “red alert” to evacuation after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Chile and Argentina’s southern coast raised concerns about a possible tsunami.
Chile’s National Disaster Prevention and Response National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (Senapred) issued a warning on Friday about the country’s southernmost Magalan region and the coastal region of its Antarctic territory due to the risk of a tsunami.
At a press conference later that day, Home Minister Alvaro Elizalde said that evacuation warnings for the area have been downgraded, but people are still being encouraged to stay away from beaches and coastal areas.
In a post on the website, Senapred said hundreds of people have evacuated from a small number of communities, including the town of Puerto Williams.
Social media videos show people calmly evacuating when sirens blared in the background.
The earthquake struck the Drake passage between Capehorn and Antarctica, just 10 km (6 miles) deep, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Magalan is Chile’s largest and southernmost region and one of the least populated regions. According to government figures, in 2017 the population was around 166,000.
Previously, Chilean President Gabriel Borik said all the nation’s resources could be used to respond to earthquakes.
“We are seeking evacuation of coastlines throughout the Magalan region,” he wrote in a social media post. “At this point, our duty is to be prepared and listen to the authorities.”
The Chilean Waterways and Marine Authority (SHOA) estimated that in the coming hours the waves will reach Antarctic bases and extreme south cities in Chile.
Meanwhile, the city of Ushuaia in Argentina is considered the world’s southernmost tip, with local governments halting all sorts of water activities and voyages on the Beagle Channel for at least three hours.
“The earthquake was felt primarily in Ushuaia city and, to a lesser extent, in the provincial towns,” the local government reported. “It’s important to stay calm in the face of these types of events.”
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