Seismic activity: latest events

Story so far

1. 24 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Dozens of M5+ quakes hit northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, the largest M6.3 on Saturday

   A cluster of earthquakes struck off Vanuatu on Saturday, led by a M6.3 at 10 km depth about 170 km NW of Port-Olry, followed by around a dozen more of magnitude 5.0 to 5.9. USGS PAGER alert levels were green for the larger shocks. Separately, a M5.8 was recorded in the Bouvet Island region on Saturday. Earlier in the period, a M5.7 and a M5.2 struck off Italy on Friday.

   M6.3 earthquake · 170 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu · M5.8 earthquake · Bouvet Island region · M5.9 earthquake · 196 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

2. 23 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   M5.7 quake strikes off Italy on Friday; Venezuela death toll questioned

   On Friday, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck 61 km WNW of Leni, Italy, at 10 km depth, with a USGS PAGER alert level of green and 9 felt reports. A magnitude 5.2 quake followed 50 km WNW of Malfa, Italy. Other magnitude 5 events were recorded near Japan and Vanuatu on Friday. Separately, a Times analysis says the official toll of 6,509 from Venezuela's June earthquakes is probably a severe undercount.

   M5.7 earthquake · 61 km WNW of Leni, Italy · M5.1 earthquake · 203 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu · M5.1 earthquake · 72 km ENE of Noda, Japan

3. 22 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Two M5 quakes strike near Nagqu, China, and one off Papua New Guinea on Thursday

   On Thursday, USGS recorded a M5.0 earthquake 153 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea, and two quakes in China about 200 km ENE of Nagqu, of M5.2 and M5.0. All were at 10 km depth. On Wednesday, three M5.0 to M5.3 quakes hit the Reykjanes Ridge, and more M5 events were recorded off Vanuatu, south of Africa and in the Philippines. A Times analysis published Wednesday says the official toll of 6,509 from Venezuela's June earthquakes is probably a severe undercount.

   M5.0 earthquake · 153 km S of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · M5.0 earthquake · 207 km ENE of Nagqu, China · M5.2 earthquake · 201 km ENE of Nagqu, China

4. 21 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Three M5+ quakes hit Reykjanes Ridge on Wednesday as Vanuatu sequence continues

   On Wednesday, three earthquakes of magnitude 5.0, 5.3 and 5.0 struck the Reykjanes Ridge, all at 10 km depth. Further M5.0 quakes were recorded about 195 km west-northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, and south of Africa (M5.1), the Philippines (M5.2) and Timor-Leste (M5.1). A Times analysis using USGS data indicates the official toll of 6,509 from June's Venezuela earthquakes is probably a severe undercount. Vanuatu has seen repeated quakes since Monday, including an M6.3 on Tuesday with tsunami information issued.

   Venezuela quake death toll likely far exceeds official 6,509,… · M5.0 earthquake · Reykjanes Ridge · M5.3 earthquake · Reykjanes Ridge

5. 20 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   M5.1 quake strikes south of Fiji after a Vanuatu swarm including an M6.3

   A magnitude 5.1 earthquake at 517 km depth struck south of the Fiji Islands late on Tuesday. Earlier on Tuesday two M5.0 quakes south of Sand Point, Alaska, prompted tsunami information. The strongest recent event was an M6.3 at 16 km depth northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, which also had tsunami information issued. Vanuatu has had a run of quakes since Monday, with an M6.0 among them.

   M5.0 earthquake · 80 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska · M5.0 earthquake · 81 km S of Sand Point, Alaska · M6.3 earthquake · 197 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

6. 19 Oct 2026 ▲ Escalating

   Series of M5+ quakes, led by an M6.0, strikes northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

   A cluster of earthquakes hit off Vanuatu on Monday, starting with an M6.0 at 10 km depth about 186 km NW of Port-Olry and followed by several M5.2 to M5.7 shocks, including two M5.7 events in the evening. Elsewhere on Monday, an M5.3 struck 116 km WNW of Höfn, Iceland, an M5.0 hit near Jiangyou, China, and an M5.1 was recorded in the South Sandwich Islands region. The strongest reported impact in the period was an M5.7 near Khuzdar, Pakistan, on Saturday, which carried a yellow USGS PAGER alert.

   M5.7 earthquake · 203 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu · M5.7 earthquake · 198 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu · M6.0 earthquake · 186 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

7. 18 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Moderate quakes strike near Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Indonesia on Sunday

   On Sunday, magnitude 5.1 to 5.2 earthquakes were recorded 129 km SSE of Kokopo in Papua New Guinea, 71 km ESE of 'Ohonua in Tonga, and 55 km NNW of Ruteng in Indonesia, each at 10 km depth. The strongest quake in the period was a magnitude 5.7 near Khuzdar, Pakistan, on Saturday, which carried a yellow PAGER alert level. Japan withdrew a mistaken alert for a 9.9-magnitude earthquake on Friday.

   M5.1 earthquake · 129 km SSE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea · M5.2 earthquake · 71 km ESE of ‘Ohonua, Tonga · M5.2 earthquake · 55 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia

8. 17 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   M5.7 quake strikes near Khuzdar, Pakistan, on Saturday

   A magnitude 5.7 earthquake at 10 km depth struck 48 km WNW of Khuzdar, Pakistan, early on Saturday, with a yellow PAGER alert level and 2 felt reports. Later on Saturday a magnitude 5.2 quake hit 86 km SW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico. On Friday, Japan withdrew an alert it had sent after wrongly believing a 9.9-magnitude earthquake had occurred; the tremor was hardly felt.

   M5.7 earthquake · 48 km WNW of Khuzdar, Pakistan · M5.2 earthquake · 86 km SW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico

9. 16 Oct 2026 ■ Steady

   Moderate quakes across the Pacific; M5.6 in Alaska the strongest felt event

   Only moderate earthquakes were recorded in this period. On Friday, magnitude 5.2 and 5.0 quakes struck off Ecuador and near New Zealand's Auckland Islands. Japan withdrew an alert it mistakenly issued on Friday for a 9.9-magnitude quake, and the tremor was hardly felt. The strongest felt event was a magnitude 5.6 quake in Alaska on Thursday.

   M5.2 earthquake · off the coast of Ecuador · M5.0 earthquake · Auckland Islands, New Zealand region · Japan mistakenly issues warning for record 9.9-magnitude earthquake

Written by Claude from the reports on this page and on the map. Check the linked sources for full details.