M4.8 Earthquake east of the South Sandwich Islands — May 31, 2025
2025-05-31 22:30:51 UTC (2025-05-31) · approx. 9:30 PM UTC-1 local
On May 31, 2025 at 22:30 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck east of the South Sandwich Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -57.6110°, -10.5505°. This earthquake was detected by 21 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in South Sandwich Islands, a region characterized by the South Sandwich Trench, one of Earth's most remote subduction zones.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-10.5505°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake east of the South Sandwich Islands?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck east of the South Sandwich Islands on May 31, 2025 at 22:30 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -57.6110°, -10.5505°, which is east of the South Sandwich Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qkn9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 31, 2025). M4.8 Earthquake east of the South Sandwich Islands — May 31, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qkn9/