M4.2 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — May 17, 2022
2022-05-17 21:38:01 UTC (2022-05-17) · approx. 7:38 PM UTC-2 local
On May 17, 2022 at 21:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region, at a depth of 73.3 km and coordinates -55.9155°, -27.6017°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.2 mainshock that occurred 9 days ago in the South Sandwich Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-27.6017°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the South Sandwich Islands region on May 17, 2022 at 21:38 UTC had a depth of 73.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.2 mainshock that occurred earlier in the South Sandwich Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000hnc4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, May 17, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — May 17, 2022. Retrieved July 24, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000hnc4/