South Atlantic Ocean — A second magnitude 5.1 earthquake shook the seafloor far south of Africa on Wednesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

What happened: The USGS says this quake hit at 1:12 p.m. Central Time, striking about 6 miles beneath the ocean floor, with its epicenter at roughly 52.8 degrees south, 27.5 degrees east — remote open ocean, hundreds of miles from any coastline. It follows an earlier M5.1 quake in the same region today. USGS seismologists have reviewed the data and confirmed the magnitude.

Impacts: With the epicenter so far offshore, no shaking was reported on land and no damage has been reported. The quake triggered no tsunami threat, the USGS says.

What to do:

- If you ever feel shaking: drop, cover, and hold on under sturdy furniture until it stops.

- Stay clear of windows, shelves, and anything that can fall.

- After a quake, check for hazards like gas leaks and damaged wiring before going back inside a building.

- Aftershocks can follow for days — stay alert.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 21, 2026.