A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Cape Town in the early hours of Sunday, 22 December 2024.
Cape Town earthquake on Sunday, 22 December 2024: Here’s what we know so far
Thus far, the tremor, which occurred at approximately 02:51, has been reported by several seismic activity tracking systems, including the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS).
Local authorities have yet to confirm the event.
According to GDACS, the tremor exposed several communities to a Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) of V or greater, corresponding to light to moderate shaking.
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The quake’s magnitude of 5.3 places it in the moderate category, meaning it could potentially cause minor damage to buildings, particularly in vulnerable areas, and may be widely felt in surrounding regions.
An earthquake of this magnitude is classified as moderate but is unlikely to result in significant humanitarian impacts.
GDACS has assessed the earthquake’s potential humanitarian consequences as low based on the affected population and their vulnerability.
In terms of coping capacity, South Africa scores 4.3 on the INFORM Index, indicating a moderate ability to manage disaster risks. Such events are rare in this part of the world but are not unprecedented.
South Africa lies within a tectonically stable region, and earthquakes of this magnitude are uncommon.
Historical data suggests that seismic events in this area tend to be low to moderate in intensity.
As of now, there have been no official statements from South African authorities or the South African National Seismograph Network (SANSN) regarding the earthquake.
