Strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hits near South Georgia island, South Atlantic Ocean

strong-and-shallow-m6-4-earthquake-hits-near-south-georgia-island-south-atlantic-ocean

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 hit east of South Georgia island, South Atlantic Ocean at 03:45 UTC on August 21, 2016. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). This is the 24th moderate to strong earthquake in this region since M7.4 hit on August 19.

The epicenter was located about 261 km (162 miles) W of South Georgia, 293 km (182 miles) NNE of Zavodovski Island, and 2 300 km (1 429 miles) E of Río Grande, Argentina.

There are no people living within 100 km (62 miles).

USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage. There are likely to be no affected structures in this region.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Aftershocks

USGS registered a total of 24 earthquakes in this region after a very strong M7.4 hit on August 19:

Image credit: USGS

  1. 5.1

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-21 04:28:59 (UTC)

  2. 6.4

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-21 03:45:23 (UTC)

  3. 4.7

    280km NW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-20 22:30:26 (UTC)

  4. 5.0

    255km NW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-20 21:46:57 (UTC)

  5. 5.2

    298km WNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-20 20:23:11 (UTC)

  6. 5.3

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-20 11:27:19 (UTC)

  7. 5.4

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-20 11:17:55 (UTC)

  8. 4.9

    299km ESE of Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-20 09:01:57 (UTC)

  9. 5.2

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-20 00:15:39 (UTC)

  10. 5.2

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-20 00:04:22 (UTC)

  11. 4.9

    297km WNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 22:56:59 (UTC)

  12. 4.8

    299km ESE of Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 21:05:31 (UTC)

  13. 5.6

    300km ESE of Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 20:37:16 (UTC)

  14. 5.8

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 17:33:40 (UTC)

  15. 5.0

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 13:42:23 (UTC)

  16. 5.0

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 13:00:06 (UTC)

  17. 5.1

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 12:56:09 (UTC)

  18. 5.1

    266km NW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 10:31:18 (UTC)

  19. 4.9

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 10:00:25 (UTC)

  20. 5.0

    274km WNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 08:32:51 (UTC)

  21. 5.2

    296km WNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 08:21:02 (UTC)

  22. 5.2

    260km WNW of Visokoi Island, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

    2016-08-19 08:13:36 (UTC)

  23. 5.2

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 07:54:53 (UTC)

  24. 5.3

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 07:46:40 (UTC)

  25. 7.4

    South Georgia Island region

    2016-08-19 07:32:22 (UTC)

Data source: USGS (updated at 07:41 UTC on August 21)

Featured image credit: USGS

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