5.1

M5.1 Earthquake near South Shetland Islands — March 20, 2026

2026-03-20 01:15:53 UTC (2026-03-20) · approx. 9:15 PM UTC-4 local

MagnitudeM5.1(mb)
Time01:15 UTC≈ 9:15 PM UTC-4
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-61.153°, -56.166°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 20, 2026 at 01:15 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck near South Shetland Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -61.1534°, -56.1659°. This earthquake was detected by 52 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 -61.15°, -56.17°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.1 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-61.1534°N
-56.1659°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000shmv
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
400
Stations Used
52
Azimuthal Gap
93.0°
Min Station Distance
8.416°
RMS Residual
1.31 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-02 21:01:38 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near South Shetland Islands?

The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck near South Shetland Islands on March 20, 2026 at 01:15 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 -61.1534°, -56.1659°, which is near South Shetland Islands.

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.

Actions

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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000shmv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 20, 2026). M5.1 Earthquake near South Shetland Islands — March 20, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000shmv/