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The South Sandwich Trench in the far South Atlantic is remote but extremely active, with frequent large quakes far from any population. This page pulls real records for South Sandwich Islands: the largest earthquakes on record from USGS, how often the ground shakes nearby, tsunamis from the NOAA database, and volcanoes from the Smithsonian program. Nothing is guessed.
A quiet recent record is good news, but many damaging earthquakes strike places that were quiet for decades. The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for South Sandwich Islands.
Earthquake risk in South Sandwich Islands - FAQ
Is South Sandwich Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 340 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 500 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.1 in 2021.
What was the biggest earthquake in South Sandwich Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near South Sandwich Islands is M8.1, in 2021 (2021 South Sandwich Islands Earthquake), from USGS.
Does South Sandwich Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 2016 (most recently 2021) within 500 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in South Sandwich Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.