USGS · October 15, 2026
Magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Palauli, Samoa
A magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded near 36 km E of Safotu, Samoa on Oct 15, 2026, 04:36 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13), at a depth of about 13.2 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 2 people · community intensity V (moderate)Shallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-10-15 05:38 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.1 · body-wave magnitude
- Location
- 36 km E of Safotu, Samoa
- Local time at the epicentre
- Oct 15, 2026, 04:36 PM — UTC+13
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-10-15 03:36 UTC
- Depth
- 13.2 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- -13.409, -172.069
- Felt reports
- Felt by 2 people · community intensity V (moderate)
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 401 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 41 seismic stations used · 107° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
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.
People who reported it described intensity V (Moderate): Felt by nearly everyone; unstable objects overturn and some plaster cracks.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 112,290 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Safotulafai | 31.5 km SSW | — |
| Safotu | 36.3 km W | 1,207 |
| Palauli | 46.1 km SSW | 9,300 |
| Vailoa | 46.4 km SSW | 769 |
| Sapulu | 46.8 km SSE | 1,221 |
| Fasito‘outa | 46.9 km SSE | 2,098 |
| Mulifanua | 47.1 km S | 4,508 |
| Nofoali‘i | 47.4 km SSE | 2,018 |
| Leulumoega | 47.5 km SSE | 1,458 |
| Sale’imoa | 47.8 km SSE | 3,816 |
Earthquake history in this area
11 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
1 other event within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 36 km E of Safotu, Samoa
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 36 km E of Safotu, Samoa earthquake?
Magnitude 5.1 (body-wave magnitude), at a depth of 13.2 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?
Oct 15, 2026, 04:36 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+13). In universal time: 2026-10-15 03:36 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 2 people · community intensity V (moderate). Felt by nearly everyone; unstable objects overturn and some plaster cracks.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Safotulafai, 31.5 km SSW.
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.2 (130 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa, 1975), and 1 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.