Very strong M7.3 earthquake at intermediate depth hits South Sandwich Islands region
Image credit: USGS
A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M7.3 hit the South Sandwich Islands region at 09:47 UTC on May 28, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 93.2 km (57.9 miles). EMSC is reporting Mw7.2 at a depth of 90 km (56 miles).
According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 58 km (36 miles) NNE of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and 2 581 km (1 603.8 miles) ESE of Ushuaia, Argentina.
There are no people living within 100 km (62 miles).
Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat from this earthquake, PTWC said.
USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
*Estimated exposure only includes population within map area (k = x1,000)
Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale
After deep M6.6 earthquake that hit Fiji region at 05:38 UTC today, this is the second M6.6+ earthquake of the day and the third M6.4+ earthquake in the last 48 hours.
The last time this region experienced M6+ earthquake was on February 17, 2015. It was registered as M6.2 earthquake on the Richter scale at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). The epicenter was located 145 km (90 miles) NNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.
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I was confused by the reference to the Sandwich Islands, which is what the Hawai’ian Islands used to be called. Looks like this might be the mid-Atlantic ridge moving apart.