M5.3 Earthquake in the Balleny Islands region — December 20, 2025
2025-12-20 10:25:03 UTC (2025-12-20) · approx. 9:25 PM UTC+11 local
On December 20, 2025 at 10:25 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Balleny Islands region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -63.7108°, 172.3365°. This earthquake was detected by 34 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
172.3365°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Balleny Islands region?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck in the Balleny Islands region on December 20, 2025 at 10:25 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 -63.7108°, 172.3365°, which is in the Balleny Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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: us6000rw6a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 20, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake in the Balleny Islands region — December 20, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rw6a/