Earthquakes in South Africa — October 2026
1 earthquakes were recorded in South Africa during October 2026, an average of 0.0 per day.
0 reached magnitude 4 or above and 0 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 5 km.
The month's largest event in South Africa was a magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Orkney, South Africa on 07 October 2026 at 12:35 UTC. A magnitude 3.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3.8 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
That is close to the South Africa monthly average of 1 events over the period we cover.
100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.
By band, the catalogue holds 1 in the magnitude 3 range.
That is close to the 1 events South Africa averages per month across the 3 months on record.
Largest earthquakes in South Africa, October 2026
1 event listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.
| Time (UTC) | Mag | Location | Depth (km) | Country | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.6 | Orkney, South Africa | 5.0 | South Africa | View details View |
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes hit South Africa in October 2026?
1 earthquakes were recorded in South Africa during October 2026, of which 0 were magnitude 4 or above.
What was the biggest earthquake in South Africa in October 2026?
A magnitude 3.6 event near Orkney, South Africa on 07 October 2026.
Other months in South Africa
Magnitudes for October 2026 reflect the current USGS review status and may have been revised since first publication. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.