Remote South Atlantic — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck the ocean floor far south of the African continent this afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

What happened: The quake hit at 1:12 PM Central time, centered in the open ocean south of Africa at a depth of 10 kilometers (about 6 miles). The USGS places the epicenter well away from land, and no tsunami warning has been issued.

Impacts: Because the earthquake struck in deep open water, no shaking reports from land and no damage are expected. A quake of this size can be widely recorded on seismographs around the world, but at this distance from shore it poses no threat to coastal areas.

What to do:

- Drop, cover, and hold on if you ever feel shaking where you are.

- Check for hazards around you after shaking stops — broken glass, fallen objects, and gas lines.

- Be ready for aftershocks, which can follow any earthquake of this size.

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