Significant earthquakes of 2005

March 9, 2005 Earthquake: Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, South Africa

March 9, 2005 · M4.3 · 2 deaths

A magnitude 4.3 earthquake struck Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, South Africa on March 9, 2005 at 10:15:31 UTC, 5 km below the surface. It killed 2 people.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date
March 9, 2005
Time
10:15:31 UTC
Place
Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, South Africa
Magnitude
4.3 (Ms)
Focal depth
5 km (3 mi)
Tsunami
None recorded
Epicenter
26.913° S, 26.789° E

The toll

Deaths
2
Injuries
58
Damage
Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)

Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Two people killed, 58 injured and many buildings damaged in the Klerksdorp-Stilfontein area. Felt (V) at Klerksdorp and (III) at Johannesburg. Also felt at Pretoria and Westonaria. (reference #1053)

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

More

Significant earthquakes of 2005The 2000sEvery quake the USGS located in 2005Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 5850.