Drake Passage Earthquake: A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit the Drake Passage region on Friday, with varying measurements reported by international seismology agencies.
US Geological Survey Gives Details About Drake Passage Earthquake
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was initially recorded at magnitude 8 but later revised to magnitude 7.5. The tremor struck at a depth of 10.8 kilometres, based on USGS data.
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.5 – Drake Passage https://t.co/jUBsyDIjn7
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) August 22, 2025
German Research Center’s Estimate Says 7.1 Magnitude
The German Research Center for Geosciences offered a different assessment, placing the magnitude of the quake at 7.1.
National Center for Seismology Report on Drake Passage Earthquake
India’s National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported the earthquake as a magnitude 7.4 event, occurring at a depth of 36 kilometres. The NCS recorded the time of the quake as 7:46 am (IST).
EQ of M: 7.4, On: 22/08/2025 07:46:22 IST, Lat: 60.26 S, Long: 61.85 W, Depth: 36 Km, Location: Drake Passage.
For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @Ravi_MoES @Dr_Mishra1966 @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/o5tQQ1wIa6— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) August 22, 2025
The earthquake occurred in the Drake Passage, a deep and wide waterway situated between South America’s Cape Horn and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. The passage connects the southwestern Atlantic Ocean with the southeastern Pacific Ocean.
Where is Drake Passage?
Drake Passage is meeting point for currents from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Southern Oceans. Its waters are so rough that the usual stratified layers of the sea blend together, allowing the passage to pull significantly more carbon into its depths compared to many other ocean regions.
Globally, oceans absorb over 30% of the carbon released by human activity each year, and the Drake Passage is believed to be one of the few critical zones where this process is especially intense, National Geographic reported.
Also Read: Twin Earthquakes Rock Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba Early Morning
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
