M2.8 Depth: 5.1 km

M2.8 Earthquake near Benedict Township, South Dakota (United States)

UTC time: 2026-01-09 12:35:12 UTC Local time:

About this earthquake

A magnitude M2.8 earthquake was recorded near Benedict Township, South Dakota (United States) on January 9, 2026 at 12:35 UTC. With a focal depth of about 5 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Events of this size typically go unnoticed.

The data is provided by USGS and cross-checked across seismological networks. United States: 181 earthquakes were recorded in the past 24 hours, the strongest reaching M3.2.

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 5.1 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 5.1 km
Shallow
5.1 km
5.1 km — shallower than the regional average (15.8 km)
Regional average: 15.8 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Historic earthquake map · United States

Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · United States

View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

Share