M5.1 earthquake – South Sandwich Islands region

An M5.1 earthquake was recorded at 10:21 UTC on June 20, 2025, east of the South Sandwich Islands. The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), as reported by the USGS.

The coordinates place the seismic event in the remote oceanic region east of the South Sandwich Islands, a largely uninhabited volcanic island arc in the southern Atlantic Ocean. No significant settlements are present in proximity to the epicenter, and the nearest landmass consists of small, ice-covered islands with minimal or no permanent population.

Given the region’s remote marine setting, the nearest critical infrastructure may include research stations or shipping lanes operating in the southern Atlantic. No major airports, ports, or energy facilities are located nearby.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

The significance index is 400 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The South Sandwich Islands region is located near the South Sandwich Trench, where the South American Plate subducts beneath the small South Sandwich Plate, generating frequent seismic activity in this part of the southern Atlantic Ocean.

This information was last updated at 10:38 UTC on June 20, 2025.

Source: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000qlej