EMSC · October 12, 2026
Magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Helio García Alfaro, Mexico
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded near 13 km S of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico on Oct 12, 2026, 01:15 PM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6), at a depth of about 174.9 km, according to EMSC.
EMSCIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-13 04:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 3.5 · m
- Location
- 13 km S of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 12, 2026, 01:15 PM — CST, UTC-6
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-12 19:15 UTC
- Depth
- 174.9 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- 17.378, -94.269
- 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
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
No intensity estimate was published for this event, which is usual for small earthquakes far from populated areas.
Who lives nearby
About 7,501 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 1,066,714 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Helio García Alfaro | 13.3 km S | 1,633 |
| La Horqueta (Poblado Doce) | 20.0 km SSE | 1,492 |
| La Chinantla | 22.2 km WSW | — |
| Poblado 10 | 22.4 km WSW | 3,315 |
| Niños Héroes | 25.3 km WNW | 1,061 |
| Poblado Cinco | 32.1 km WSW | 1,329 |
| Hermanos Cedillo | 39.0 km WSW | 1,217 |
| Vicente Guerrero | 49.5 km WNW | 1,203 |
| Venustiano Carranza (Peña Blanca) | 59.2 km WNW | 1,097 |
| Hidalgotitlán | 59.2 km NW | 3,980 |
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
46 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
M 3.8 26 km SSE of Francisco I. Madero, Mexico
M 3.6 7 km NW of Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico
M 3.6 10 km WSW of Donaji, Mexico
M 3.8 13 km ENE of Niños Héroes, Mexico
M 4.0 28 km S of Nueva Tenochtitlán (Rizo de Oro), Mexico
M 3.7 31 km ESE of Emiliano Zapata, Mexico
M 3.9 28 km WNW of La Horqueta (Poblado Doce), Mexico
M 3.6 23 km SE of Emiliano Zapata, Mexico
M 4.0 9 km SSE of Hermanos Cedillo, Mexico
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 13 km S of Helio García Alfaro, Mexico earthquake?
Magnitude 3.5 (m), at a depth of 174.9 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Oct 12, 2026, 01:15 PM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6). In universal time: 2026-10-12 19:15 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 Helio García Alfaro, 13.3 km S (population 1,633).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.2 (13 km NW of Ocozocoautla de Espinosa, Mexico, 1995), and 46 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.