A strong earthquake hit the Drake Passage. It prompted tsunami alerts for Chilean Antarctic bases. The Drake Passage is known for rough seas. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The passage is vital for global climate regulation.

A major, preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck in the South Atlantic Ocean late Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported. The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said there was no longer a threat of a tsunami after an earlier advisory by Chilean authorities for parts of Antarctica.