A magnitude 5.3 earthquake was recorded near Balleny Islands region on Aug 15, 2026, 12:40:13 AM (2026-08-15T00:40:13.397Z). The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10.0 km with coordinates -62.9125, 165.8900.
Moderate — widely felt, limited damage likely. This was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake — classed as moderate. Magnitude 5.0–5.9 earthquakes can damage poorly built buildings near the epicentre and are felt over a wide area.
At 10.0 km this is a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes release their energy close to the surface, so shaking is usually stronger and more damaging than a deeper quake of the same magnitude — but it is felt over a smaller area.
Nearest major city: 2,198 km S of Christchurch, New Zealand.
The epicentre was located at -62.9125 latitude and 165.8900 longitude near Balleny Islands region. The earthquake was shallow at 10.0 km depth.
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Data source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program event page. This page is generated from live USGS GeoJSON feed data.
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