Shallow M5.7 earthquake hits Drake Passage
A shallow M5.7 earthquake struck the Drake Passage at 21:28 UTC on October 10, 2025. The event originated at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), based on data reviewed by the USGS.
The epicenter was located at 62.4°S, 60.0°W in the Drake Passage, the body of water lying between the southern tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula. This region is remote, and no populated centers are nearby.
Given the location in open ocean waters and far from the nearest landmasses, critical infrastructure such as ports, scientific research stations, and international shipping routes may be present in the broader region, but no major population centers or land-based infrastructure are located in proximity to the epicenter.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity was 0, with no felt reports submitted. The significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.
The Drake Passage sits along the complex Scotia Plate boundary, an area known for seismic activity due to the interaction between the South American Plate, the Antarctic Plate, and adjacent smaller plates.
This information was last updated at 21:55 UTC on October 10, 2025.