Latest earthquakes near South Africa today

Complete overview of the latest earthquakes near the country South Africa, updated every minute. Did you feel an earthquake today in South Africa? If an earthquake is happening right now near South Africa, it will show up within minutes.

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List of latest earthquakes near South Africa.
Date and Time Magnitude Location
Dec 10, 2024 17:09
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 15 km NNE
from eMbalenhle
Dec 2, 2024 01:02
(Johannesburg)
M 3.6 9 km WSW
from Krugersdorp
Nov 28, 2024 01:23
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 10 km SW
from Carletonville
Nov 27, 2024 18:49
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 39 km SSE
from Witbank
Nov 22, 2024 08:56
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 67 km NNE
from Vryheid
Nov 6, 2024 18:45
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 9 km S
from Carletonville
Nov 3, 2024 00:23
(Johannesburg)
M 3.2 274 km N
from Phalaborwa
Oct 30, 2024 23:44
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 4 km SW
from Carletonville
Oct 21, 2024 04:19
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 144 km SE
from Botshabelo
Oct 17, 2024 22:23
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 82 km SSW
from Phalaborwa
Oct 11, 2024 17:51
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 36 km W
from Nelspruit
Oct 11, 2024 15:01
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 62 km NE
from Pretoria
Oct 7, 2024 09:39
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 7 km SE
from Welkom
Sep 26, 2024 12:40
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 24 km NNE
from eMbalenhle
Sep 21, 2024 01:06
(Johannesburg)
M 4.3 225 km N
from Polokwane
Sep 16, 2024 00:40
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 225 km WNW
from Vryburg
Sep 13, 2024 17:26
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 44 km NW
from Nelspruit
Sep 11, 2024 17:22
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 43 km S
from Witbank
Sep 6, 2024 12:23
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 192 km N
from Cape Town
Sep 5, 2024 14:34
(Johannesburg)
M 3.0 36 km SW
from Soweto
Aug 27, 2024 00:06
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 4 km SE
from Randfontein
Aug 26, 2024 08:35
(Johannesburg)
M 3.1 164 km WSW
from Pietermaritzburg
Aug 25, 2024 09:09
(Johannesburg)
M 3.3 11 km SSW
from Klerksdorp
Aug 14, 2024 17:43
(Johannesburg)
M 3.5 41 km SSW
from Bloemfontein
Aug 10, 2024 04:54
(Johannesburg)
M 3.2 264 km N
from Polokwane

Map of Latest Earthquakes near South Africa

South Africa Earthquake Statistics

Average Earthquakes:
11 Yearly
Within 300 km, Mag 4+, last 10 years
Latest Earthquake:
Mag 3
Dec 10, 2024 17:09

Average

A total of 112 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or above have struck within 300 km (186 mi) of South Africa in the past 10 years. This comes down to a yearly average of 11 earthquakes per year

A relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near South Africa in 2018. A total of 20 earthquakes (mag 4+) were detected within 300 km of South Africa that year. The strongest had a 4.6 magnitude.

Yearly Earthquakes within 300 km (186 mi) of South Africa with a magnitude of 4 or above.

Magnitude Distribution

The table below visualizes the distribution of all earthquakes that occurred within 300km of South Africa in the past 10 years. No earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 or above have occurred near South Africa during this time. Usually, higher magnitudes are less common than lower magnitudes. Small earthquakes with a magnitude below 4 on the Richter scale have been omitted from this overview.

Earthquakes by magnitude near South Africa (past 10 years).
Magnitude Earthquakes Percentage
Mag. 4 111 99.11%
Mag. 5 1 0.89%
Mag. 6 0 0.0%
Mag. 7 0 0.0%
Mag. 8 0 0.0%
Mag. 9 0 0.0%
Mag. 10 0 0.0%

Strongest earthquakes near South Africa

Strongest in 10 years:
Mag 5.2
On Apr 3, 2017 05:08.
Strongest since 1900:
Mag 6.8
On Dec 31, 1932 08:30.

The strongest recent earthquake of the past 10 years near South Africa occurred on Apr 3, 2017 05:08 local time (Africa/Johannesburg timezone). It had a magnitude of 5.2 and struck 15 kilometers (9 mi) east-southeast of Klerksdorp, at a depth of 5 km. Discover more strong earthquakes near South Africa in the list below.

A longer time ago, a MAG-6.8 earthquake struck on Dec 31, 1932 08:30, 120 kilometers (75 mi) east-southeast of Richards Bay. It is the strongest earthquake near South Africa in the past 124 years (Our data goes back to January 1st, 1900).

In the table below you will find the strongest earthquakes that occurred near South Africa in the past 10 years. You can use the tabs to find the heaviest historic earthquakes since the year 1900 or within a specific year or distance from South Africa.

Last 10 yrs All magnitudes
2023 All mag
Historic M6+ since 1900
Custom
List of strongest earthquakes near South Africa.
Date and Time Magnitude Location
Apr 3, 2017 05:08
(Johannesburg)
M 5.2 15 km ESE
from Klerksdorp
Mar 1, 2019 06:56
(Johannesburg)
M 4.9 6 km WSW
from Soweto
Mar 22, 2019 02:30
(Johannesburg)
M 4.9 11 km SSE
from Welkom
Aug 12, 2017 04:37
(Johannesburg)
M 4.9 279 km NW
from Rustenburg
Jun 11, 2023 02:38
(Johannesburg)
M 4.9 18 km SE
from Johannesburg
Mar 7, 2019 11:32
(Johannesburg)
M 4.8 39 km SW
from Soweto
Mar 1, 2015 21:11
(Johannesburg)
M 4.8 9 km ESE
from Welkom
May 6, 2020 06:59
(Johannesburg)
M 4.8 13 km ESE
from Klerksdorp
Dec 6, 2020 03:05
(Johannesburg)
M 4.8 12 km SE
from Klerksdorp
Jul 17, 2022 11:19
(Johannesburg)
M 4.8 21 km SE
from Klerksdorp

Map of Strongest Earthquakes near South Africa

Earthquakes by region of South Africa

Click the links below for earthquake reports for regions in South Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions are commonly asked in relation to earthquakes occurring near South Africa.

When was the last earthquake in South Africa?

A 3 magnitude earthquake hit near South Africa on the afternoon of December 10, 2024 at 17:09 local time (Africa/Johannesburg). The center of this earthquake was located 15km north-northeast of eMbalenhle at a depth of 10km under land. Check the list on our website for any earthquakes occurring near South Africa in the past hours.

What was the strongest earthquake near South Africa?

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit near South Africa on the morning of December 31, 1932 at 08:30 local time (Africa/Johannesburg). The center of this earthquake was located 120km east-southeast of Richards Bay at a depth of 15km under water in the Indian Ocean. This is the strongest earthquake that occurred near South Africa since the year 1900.

How often do earthquakes occur near South Africa?

In the past 10 years, 112 earthquakes with a magnitude of four or higher occurred within a 300 kilometer range from South Africa. This averages to 11 earthquakes yearly, or one earthquake every 33 days.