MONTEVIDEO — A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Uruguay’s Rocha department late Sunday, rattling buildings in Montevideo and triggering brief tsunami alerts for the southern Atlantic coastline before they were lifted within the hour. No casualties have been reported, but local authorities said at least 200 homes in coastal towns sustained structural damage.
Unusual Seismic Event
The Uruguayan Navy issued a statement saying the tremor was located approximately 80 kilometers southeast of La Paloma and was unrelated to any volcanic activity. Seismologists at the University of the Republic said the event was unusual for Uruguay, which typically experiences only minor tremors. The event follows a 5.8 quake in the same region in March — raising questions among geologists about increased tectonic activity in the basin.
Government Response
President Yamandu Orsi convened an emergency session and ordered damage assessments in Rocha, Lavalleja and Maldonado departments. The health ministry said all coastal hospitals were operational. Argentina’s national seismological institute confirmed the tremor was felt as far as Buenos Aires province, though no damage was reported there. The Navy has deployed patrol vessels to monitor the coastline for abnormal wave activity.
Written by Admin, Media Hook