5.0

M5.0 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands regionNovember 7, 2024

2024-11-07 09:00:06 UTC (2024-11-07) · approx. 7:00 AM UTC-2 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mb)
Time09:00 UTC7:00 AM UTC-2
Depth119.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-56.219°, -27.448°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On November 7, 2024 at 09:00 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region, at a depth of 119.2 km and coordinates -56.2193°, -27.4481°. This earthquake was detected by 67 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -56.22°, -27.45°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mb
Depth
119.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
-56.2193°N
-27.4481°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000nqdi
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
67
Azimuthal Gap
56.0°
Min Station Distance
5.522°
RMS Residual
0.74 sec
Last Updated
2025-01-24 19:51:20 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck in the South Sandwich Islands region on November 7, 2024 at 09:00 UTC had a depth of 119.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -56.2193°, -27.4481°, which is in the South Sandwich Islands region.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nqdi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, November 7, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands regionNovember 7, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nqdi/