5.1

M5.1 Earthquake in the Balleny Islands regionNovember 17, 2025

2025-11-17 09:48:32 UTC (2025-11-17) · approx. 8:48 PM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM5.1(mb)
Time09:48 UTC8:48 PM UTC+11
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-61.132°, 159.588°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 17, 2025 at 09:48 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Balleny Islands region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -61.1320°, 159.5878°. This earthquake was detected by 43 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -61.13°, 159.59°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.1 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-61.1320°N
159.5878°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000rnq7
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
400
Stations Used
43
Azimuthal Gap
103.0°
Min Station Distance
6.662°
RMS Residual
0.82 sec
Last Updated
2026-02-10 15:55:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake in the Balleny Islands region?

The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck in the Balleny Islands region on November 17, 2025 at 09:48 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 -61.1320°, 159.5878°, which is in the Balleny Islands region.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000rnq7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, November 17, 2025). M5.1 Earthquake in the Balleny Islands regionNovember 17, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rnq7/