Strong earthquake hits the South Atlantic, no tsunami threat

A strong earthquake measuring 6.5 has struck the South Atlantic Ocean off Zavodovski Island in the South Sandwich Islands, seismologists say. There is no threat of a tsunami and damage is unlikely.

The earthquake, which struck at 2:14 p.m. local time on Friday, was centered about 44 kilometers (27 miles) northwest of Zavodovski Island, which is part of a British overseas territory that is known as South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

The earthquake was initially measured at 6.6, but the magnitude was later downgraded to 6.5, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). It said the earthquake struck about 58 kilometers (36 miles) below the seabed, making it a relatively shallow earthquake.

“Based on earthquake information and historic tsunami records, the earthquake is not expected to generate a tsunami,” the U.S. Tsunami Warning Center said in a bulletin.

Injuries are unlikely because the British overseas territory is uninhabited, although a few dozen staff members stay year-round at scientific bases on Bird Island and South Georgia Island. There were no reports of damage.