South Sandwich Islands Region — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck in the South Sandwich Islands region on Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

What happened:

The earthquake hit at 7:34 AM Central Time on November 3, 2026, in the remote South Atlantic Ocean near the South Sandwich Islands. The USGS put the depth at about 144 kilometers, which is deep for an earthquake of this size. The quake was reviewed by USGS seismologists and measured as magnitude 4.9.

Impacts:

No tsunami was generated by this earthquake, according to the USGS. No felt reports were listed, which is not surprising given how remote the South Sandwich Islands are, with no towns or cities nearby. No damage reports have been received.

What to do:

- If you ever feel shaking, drop, cover, and hold on until the shaking stops.

- Stay away from windows, shelves, and anything that could fall.

- After shaking ends, check for hazards such as broken glass, gas smells, or damaged wiring before moving around.

- Be ready for aftershocks, which can follow a larger earthquake.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), November 3, 2026.