SANTIAGO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the southern maritime zone of Chile on Friday, prompting authorities to issue a tsunami alert for the Magallanes region.

The National Seismological Center of the University of Chile said the quake occurred at 8:58 a.m. local time (1258 GMT), with its epicenter located 218 km south of Puerto Williams -- the country's southernmost city, nearly 3,500 km from the capital city of Santiago.

The tremor struck at a depth of 10 km and was felt in surrounding localities, officials said.

Chile's National Disaster Prevention and Response Service (SENAPRED) said damage assessments are underway, while the Chilean Navy's Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service (SHOA) issued a tsunami alert, urging coastal residents in Magallanes and the Chilean Antarctic Territory to evacuate to safe zones and avoid beaches.

Chile, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the world's most seismically active countries. ■