M 5.3 Moderate Earthquake Strikes Drake Passage
A magnitude 5.3 moderate earthquake occurred in the Drake Passage on March 14, 2026. The shallow event was recorded at a depth of 4.9 kilometers with no tsunami warnings issued.
What Happened
A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 mb occurred in the Drake Passage. The seismic event was recorded on March 14, 2026, at 18:31:17 UTC. The earthquake has been officially reviewed by the USGS.
Location Details
The earthquake was centered at coordinates 60.2992°S, 61.2619°W. It occurred at a shallow depth of 4.878 km. In geological terms, earthquakes at depths of less than 20 km are considered shallow, which can often lead to more noticeable shaking at the surface compared to deeper seismic events.
Impact Assessment
There are currently no felt reports associated with this event, likely due to its remote maritime location. No tsunami advisory, watch, or warning has been issued (tsunami status: 0). No alert level color was assigned to this event in the source data.
What You Should Know
A magnitude 5.3 event is classified as a “moderate earthquake.” While earthquakes of this size can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings in populated areas, this event occurred in a remote region. Residents in the broader geographic area should be aware that aftershocks are a possibility following a seismic event of this magnitude.
Source
Information and data provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Source: USGS Official Notice