M5.0 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — December 18, 2024
2024-12-18 20:12:51 UTC (2024-12-18) · approx. 6:12 PM UTC-2 local
On December 18, 2024 at 20:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -60.5390°, -26.5165°. This earthquake was detected by 42 seismic stations with moderate 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
Earthquake Details
-26.5165°E
Technical Information
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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 December 18, 2024 at 20:12 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 -60.5390°, -26.5165°, 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.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nzvy). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, December 18, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake in the South Sandwich Islands region — December 18, 2024. Retrieved February 27, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nzvy/