Strong and shallow M6.3 earthquake hits Drake Passage
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit Drake Passage at 01:42 UTC on October 16, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.3 at a depth of 20 km (12.4 miles). No tsunami warnings have been issued.
Epicenter of M6.3 earthquake in Drake Passage on October 16, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 686 km (426 miles) SSE of Tolhuin (population 3 000) and 693 km (430 miles) SE of Ushuaia (population 56 825) in the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica.
There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.
This earthquake follows the major M7.6 event that struck the same region on October 10, 2025, which generated a hazardous tsunami warning.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.3 earthquake Drake Passage — USGS — October 16, 2025
2 M6.3 earthquake Drake Passage — EMSC — October 16, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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