M5.0 Earthquake near South Atlantic Ocean — September 17, 2026
2026-09-17 06:48:41 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 5:48 AM UTC-1 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On September 17, 2026 at 06:48 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck near South Atlantic Ocean, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -22.5873°, -20.3463°. This earthquake was detected by 30 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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago near South Atlantic Ocean. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-20.3463°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near South Atlantic Ocean?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck near South Atlantic Ocean on September 17, 2026 at 06:48 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 -22.5873°, -20.3463°, which is near South Atlantic Ocean.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier near South Atlantic Ocean. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000thzz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 17, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake near South Atlantic Ocean — September 17, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000thzz/