M4.5 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — May 14, 2026
2026-05-14 22:22:53 UTC (2026-05-14) · approx. 8:22 PM UTC-2 local
On May 14, 2026 at 22:22 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region, at a depth of 67.5 km and coordinates -58.2900°, -25.4121°. This earthquake was detected by 19 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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
-25.4121°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck in the South Sandwich Islands region on May 14, 2026 at 22:22 UTC had a depth of 67.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -58.2900°, -25.4121°, which is in the South Sandwich Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sz9x). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 14, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — May 14, 2026. Retrieved July 25, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sz9x/