Magnitude 5.6 earthquake — South Sandwich Islands region
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck near South Sandwich Islands region at a depth of about 10 km. Details, shaking intensity and any tsunami information are on the USGS event page.
Explained simply
The South Sandwich Islands are a remote chain of volcanic islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean, east of the southern tip of South America. They are part of a region where the Earth’s crust is divided into large moving plates.
Earthquakes happen when pressure builds up as these plates move and is suddenly released. The islands have few permanent residents, but the surrounding area is important for scientific study and wildlife.
The depth and location of an earthquake can affect how strongly it is felt and whether it moves the sea floor. Tsunamis are uncommon, but official monitoring agencies assess the risk after undersea earthquakes.