A 7.4-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck the Drake Passage Friday, triggering a tsunami warning for Chile's Magallanes region and Antarctic Territory. Chile and neighboring Argentina carried out preventive evacuations, relocating thousands from coastal areas. Shortly after, a stronger 7.5-magnitude quake hit Puerto Williams, followed by a 6.1 aftershock in the Strait of Magellan. Chilean authorities later downgraded the tsunami alert but suspended maritime activities. No injuries or damages were reported, and both countries continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain in safe zones.
Add your comment!Puerto Williams on the island of Navarino, extreme south of Chile, sitting on the Beagle Channel is improving its infrastructure with the construction of the new multipurpose dock designed to accommodate calls from the growing cruise industry operating in the area.
Cruise industry giants Silversea announced this week its plans to build a luxury hotel in the Chilean town of Puerto Williams to revolutionize Antarctic tourism. The 150-room complex “will allow us to offer an unparalleled Antarctic expedition that further enhances our world-class vacation portfolio,” Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty said.
Port authorities from Punta Arenas in the extreme south Chile, have revealed what they are expecting for the coming cruise season, following a 2022/23 season considered acceptable, although with a lesser number of passengers.
A large boost for the cruise industry in Chile, according to the leading newspaper of the country, El Mercurio. Royal Caribbean and Punta Arenas airline DAP are planning to invest some 18 million dollars in the construction of a five-star hotel in Puerto Williams, a small town on Chilean territory, Navarino island, across from Argentina's Ushuaia.
The Punta Arena-based Chilean carrier Aerovías DAP plans to operate over 150 flights to Antarctica between November 2022 and March of 2023, an increase of 30% over last summer, it was announced.
SilverSea Cruises has announced an improved package for passengers travelling in any of its three ice-class expedition ships, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind and Silver Explorer. To start with, the Antarctica cruises they will embark and disembark in Puerto Williams for the 2022-2023 season.
Which is the world's most southern city? Or which is the city closest to Antarctica. Somewhere in the southern tip of South America, be it Argentina or Chile. And the usual answer is Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego, which Argentines recognize as the gate to Antarctica.
The regional government of Magallanes extreme south of Chile signed an agreement with the Telecommunications ministry and Country Development Secretariat to study the feasibility of an optical fiber from the region to the Antarctic peninsula.
Punta Arenas, the extreme south of Chile will be hosting Silversea Cruises as its base of operations, having decided to abandon Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego. Silversea announced a release in which it makes official its Antarctic cruise operations during the 2021/22 season, following an agreement with Chilean officials.