On Friday, a powerful earthquake measuring 7.8 struck the Drake Passage. This was reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake’s epicenter is situated in a remote area of water that lies between South America and Antarctica.
As of now, there haven’t been any confirmed reports of damage or injuries due to the remote nature of the quake’s location.
Authorities are keeping a close eye on the situation for any potential tsunami or aftershocks and will provide alerts as necessary.
Interestingly enough, the tremor in the Drake Passage coincides with a significant seismic event occurring not far away, as a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck off the Philippines. This earlier quake triggered tsunami warnings and led to evacuations across various provinces, with the epicenter found roughly 14 miles east-southeast of Santiago, Mindanao. This pattern of seismic activity has been observed in the region recently.
Drake Passage: Where Is It Located?
The Drake Passage is the stretch of water located between the southernmost point of South America, known as Cape Horn, and the northern edges of Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands. Covering approximately 600 miles, it serves as a conduit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is famed for its perilous navigation due to strong currents, fierce winds, and towering waves—conditions formed by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current.
This passage is named after the English explorer Sir Francis Drake and has long served as a crucial passage for explorers and vessels heading toward Antarctica. Before the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914, it was the main sea route linking major global oceans. Today, it continues to be a significant area for oceanographic studies and climate research, yielding critical information about ocean currents and the state of Earth’s polar ecosystems.
Understanding Earthquakes in the Drake Passage
The Drake Passage occasionally witnesses moderate to strong earthquakes due to its position at the complex boundary between the Scotia Plate and the Antarctic Plate. Though not densely populated and predominantly submerged, this region is seismically active, with tremors typically ranging between magnitudes 5 and 7. While major earthquakes in this area are somewhat rare, they can still occur due to the movements of the tectonic plates and deep-ocean trenches. Fortunately, because of its isolation, quakes in the Drake Passage seldom result in significant damage or tsunami events that affect mainland areas.
Note: Updated on 10/10/25 at 7:15 p.m. ET to include latest information.
