M5.0 Earthquake near Reykjanes Ridge — October 22, 2020
2020-10-22 23:06:32 UTC (2020-10-22) · approx. 9:06 PM UTC-2 local
On October 22, 2020 at 23:06 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Reykjanes Ridge, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 52.7083°, -35.0029°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-35.0029°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Reykjanes Ridge?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck near Reykjanes Ridge on October 22, 2020 at 23:06 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 52.7083°, -35.0029°, which is near Reykjanes Ridge.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000cbt3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 22, 2020). M5.0 Earthquake near Reykjanes Ridge — October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000cbt3/