Br.Ant.Territory : 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits South Sandwich Islands
Submitted by (Juanita Brock) 02.01.2006 (Article Archived on 16.01.2006)

The US Geological Survey reports that a 7.3 Magnitude earthquake has hit an area along the South-Eastern Scotia Plate near the South Sandwich Islands.

7.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE HITS SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS

By J. Brock (FINN)

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale has struck 6.2 miles beneath the seabed along the Scotia Plate in the South Sandwich Islands.  According to the US Geological Survey, the quake took place at approximately 0500 local time on Monday, 02 January 2006.  The exact location of the earthquake is 60.809S and 21.451W, which puts it 250 Miles SE of Bristol Island in the South Sandwich Chain, 350 Miles SE of Visikoi Island in the South Sandwich Chain and 720 Miles SE of Grytviken South Georgia.

Due to the area being unpopulated there were no reports of damage, though some people reported shaking as far west as Santiago, Chile at the approximate time of the quake.

The Scotia Plate area is known as a Subduction Zone and is an area of frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.  Last month another South Sandwich Island, Montagu Island, had a volcanic eruption that increased its land area by the size of several football pitches.