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Earthquakes today

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Last hourLast 6 hoursOlderBigger circle, bigger earthquake
Last 24 hours
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Largest
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Tsunami flag
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What the numbers mean

Magnitude

M2
Usually not felt, but recorded by instruments.
M3
Often felt near the epicentre, no damage expected.
M4
Felt over a wide area, objects rattle. Damage is rare.
M5
Can damage weak buildings near the epicentre.
M6+
Can cause serious damage over a wide area.

Each step of 1 in magnitude releases about 32 times more energy. How strongly it is felt also depends on depth, distance and the ground.

Mw, mb and ML

USGS shows the type next to each value. Mw (moment magnitude) is based on the area of the fault that slipped and how far it moved, and is the most reliable for large earthquakes. mb and ML are quick estimates used mainly for smaller events.

Why depth matters

An earthquake of the same magnitude shakes the surface harder when it is shallow. Events less than 70 km deep count as shallow. Deep earthquakes, down to about 700 km, are felt over a wider area but more weakly.

Tsunami flag

USGS sets this flag for large events in oceanic regions. It does not mean that a tsunami happened. Official warnings come from the tsunami warning centres and local authorities.

Source

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, public domain data.

During shaking: drop, cover and hold on. https://www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon/

This page shows the latest earthquakes around the world on a map and in a list. The data comes from the public earthquake feed of the US Geological Survey (USGS). For each quake you see the magnitude, place, depth and time in your own time zone, and the bigger the circle on the map, the bigger the earthquake.

It is useful when you hear about a quake in the news and want to check its size and location, when you want to see what has happened in a region over recent days, or when you are curious about how earthquake data is read. It does not cover small earthquakes in Turkey, for which the AFAD list is needed.

How to use

  1. Pick Last day, M2.5+ or Last week, M4.5+ in the Range row. The numbers at the top show how many quakes there were in the last 24 hours and the last 7 days and how big the largest was.
  2. Filter the list with the Magnitude row. For the last day the options are All, M4+, M5+ and M6+; for the last week they are All, M5+, M6+ and M7+.
  3. Click a circle on the map to select that quake, or press a row in the Earthquake list. It shows as selected on both the map and the list, and hovering a circle shows its magnitude, depth and time.
  4. Circle colours show how long ago the quake happened. For the last day they split into the last hour, last 6 hours and older; for the last week into the last 24 hours, last 3 days and older.
  5. Press Show more to see more of the list. Use the link on a row to open that event's USGS page.
  6. The section below the map gives short explanations of magnitude, Mw, mb and ML, and depth.

When it helps

The most common use is checking a quake you heard about in the news. Magnitudes can differ between sources, and early values are updated in the first hours. Here you see the USGS value together with the depth and the type, such as Mw.

A student or teacher interested in seismology can compare the biggest quakes of the week on the map and see where the plate boundaries run. A page like this gives a visual aid for a lesson.

Tips

  • The last day shows M2.5 and above and the last week M4.5 and above. Smaller quakes may be missing; USGS lists many regions outside the US from roughly M4.5.
  • The list refreshes every few minutes while the page is open. The bottom of the page states the data time and your time zone.
  • The tsunami flag is a label USGS puts on large quakes in ocean regions. It does not mean a tsunami happened. For warnings, look to the official tsunami warning centres.
  • The first magnitude published can change later. Do not rely on a single value when judging an event.
  • This page is for information and is not an early warning system. For preparation, use the guidance published by your local disaster agency.

Questions

Where does the data come from?

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, whose feeds are public domain. The list refreshes every few minutes while the page is open.

Why are small earthquakes in my country missing?

The last day shows events from magnitude 2.5, the last week from 4.5. Outside the United States, USGS lists many regions only from about magnitude 4.5, so national agencies such as AFAD in Türkiye list more small events.

What does the tsunami flag mean?

USGS sets it for large events in oceanic regions and links to the tsunami warning centres. It does not mean that a tsunami happened. Warnings come from the official tsunami warning centres.

Why do magnitudes differ between sources?

Agencies use different station networks and methods. The first values are often revised in the hours after an earthquake.