EMSC · September 12, 2026
Magnitude 3.9 earthquake — 8 km N of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake was recorded near 8 km N of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico on Sep 12, 2026, 11:03 AM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6), at a depth of about 24.2 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-13 03:16 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.9 · m
- Location
- 8 km N of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 12, 2026, 11:03 AM — CST, UTC-6
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-12 17:03 UTC
- Depth
- 24.2 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 16.058, -95.840
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- EMSC (Centro Sismológico Euromediterráneo)
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Who lives nearby
About 14,896 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 540,255 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Santa María Zapotitlán | 7.9 km N | 1,104 |
| Tapanalá | 15.9 km SE | 1,479 |
| El Coyul | 16.2 km SSE | 2,204 |
| Santa María | 16.4 km ESE | 1,374 |
| San Pedro Huamelula | 18.7 km E | 2,247 |
| Santiago Astata | 19.2 km ESE | 2,207 |
| Merced del Potrero | 24.7 km W | 2,175 |
| Santa María Ecatepec | 25.6 km N | 524 |
| Santa María Xadani | 27.7 km WSW | 1,042 |
| Asunción Tlacolulita | 29.5 km NNE | 540 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Mexico.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
32 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.9 38 km NW of Santa Gertrudis Miramar, Mexico
M 3.5 46 km NW of Santa Gertrudis Miramar, Mexico
M 3.6 3 km NW of San Pedro Quiatoni, Mexico
M 4.1 58 km NW of Santa Gertrudis Miramar, Mexico
M 3.5 4 km NE of La Noria, Mexico
M 3.6 5 km NNW of Santo Domingo Chihuitán, Mexico
M 3.8 10 km ENE of El Coyul, Mexico
M 3.6 12 km WNW of Santa María Guenagati, Mexico
M 3.5 4 km WNW of Santo Domingo Chihuitán, Mexico
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 8 km N of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico
SeismoWatch pushes a notification to your Android phone within minutes of a matching earthquake — for the area and magnitude you choose.
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 8 km N of Santa María Zapotitlán, Mexico earthquake?
Magnitude 3.9 (m), at a depth of 24.2 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 12, 2026, 11:03 AM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6). In universal time: 2026-09-12 17:03 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Small earthquakes usually pass unnoticed except very close to the epicentre.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Santa María Zapotitlán, 7.9 km N (population 1,104).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.7 (2 km ESE of San Agustín Loxicha, Mexico, 1978), and 32 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.