M6.3 earthquake - South Sandwich Islands region

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck South Sandwich Islands region on 5 Oct 1997, 18:04 UTC at a depth of 274 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.