4.2

M4.2 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands regionJuly 15, 2025

2025-07-15 22:50:46 UTC (2025-07-15) · approx. 8:50 PM UTC-2 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:50 UTC8:50 PM UTC-2
Depth111.3 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-55.954°, -27.854°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 15, 2025 at 22:50 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region, at a depth of 111.3 km and coordinates -55.9542°, -27.8536°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -55.95°, -27.85°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
111.3 km
intermediate depth
Location
-55.9542°N
-27.8536°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000qvpk
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
11
Azimuthal Gap
108.0°
Min Station Distance
5.231°
RMS Residual
0.23 sec
Last Updated
2025-11-28 21:23:18 UTC

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 July 15, 2025 at 22:50 UTC had a depth of 111.3 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qvpk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, July 15, 2025). M4.2 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands regionJuly 15, 2025. Retrieved November 28, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qvpk/