A 5.1 magnitude earthquake occurred in the South Atlantic Ocean, South-West of Africa on Sunday, January 24.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the earthquake happened at 5.11pm and had a depth of 10km. No tsunami warnings have been issued.

The blue dot on the map shows the location of the earthquake. Credit: USGS

Earthquakes are caused by rocks under the earth’s surface that suddenly break along a fault. This energy leads to seismic waves that make the ground shake or tremble, according to Michigan Tech. Depending on the location and magnitude, these tremors can cause huge waves in the ocean, which can result in tsunamis if they reach land.

Picture: Unsplash

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