EMSC · September 18, 2026
Magnitude 3.6 earthquake near Xaltianguis, Mexico
A magnitude 3.6 earthquake was recorded near 12 km S of Pueblo Madero (El Playón), Mexico on Sep 18, 2026, 04:34 AM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6), at a depth of about 42.6 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-18 15:47 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.6 · m
- Location
- 12 km S of Pueblo Madero (El Playón), Mexico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 18, 2026, 04:34 AM — CST, UTC-6
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-18 10:34 UTC
- Depth
- 42.6 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 17.233, -99.690
- 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 59,697 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 1,460,173 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pueblo Madero (El Playón) | 12.0 km S | 1,031 |
| Coacoyulillo | 12.1 km NNE | 1,771 |
| Xaltianguis | 15.2 km S | 6,965 |
| Julián Blanco (Dos Caminos) | 17.6 km E | 1,955 |
| Mohoneras | 18.5 km E | 1,777 |
| El Ocotito | 18.6 km E | 6,882 |
| Tierra Colorada | 18.8 km ESE | 11,540 |
| Buena Vista de la Salud | 20.2 km E | 2,228 |
| Cajelitos | 21.3 km E | 1,376 |
| Kilómetro 40 | 22.1 km SSW | 1,085 |
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
27 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.5 19 km N of Cruz Grande, Mexico
M 3.6 2 km SE of Amatillo, Mexico
M 3.6 8 km N of Colonia Luces en el Mar, Mexico
M 3.5 2 km NW of Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico
M 3.9 2 km ESE of La Estación, Mexico
M 3.7 24 km N of Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico
M 3.5 25 km N of Las Vigas, Mexico
M 3.7 2 km SE of La Estación, Mexico
M 4.0 5 km ENE of San Marcos, Mexico
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 12 km S of Pueblo Madero (El Playón), Mexico
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 12 km S of Pueblo Madero (El Playón), Mexico earthquake?
Magnitude 3.6 (m), at a depth of 42.6 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 18, 2026, 04:34 AM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6). In universal time: 2026-09-18 10:34 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 Pueblo Madero (El Playón), 12.0 km S (population 1,031).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.6 (12 km SSE of Vallecitos de Zaragoza, Mexico, 1979), and 27 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), in Venezuela FUNVISIS and in Brazil the RSBR through the Centro de Sismologia da USP. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.