USGS · September 6, 2026

Magnitude 4.8 earthquake — 39 km SW of Copala, Mexico

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake was recorded near 39 km SW of Copala, Mexico on Sep 6, 2026, 12:46 PM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6), at a depth of about 10.0 km, according to USGS.

USGSFelt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light)Shallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist

Updated 2026-09-06 21:44 UTC

The full record

Magnitude
M 4.8 · body-wave magnitude
Location
39 km SW of Copala, Mexico
Local time at the epicentre
Sep 6, 2026, 12:46 PM — CST, UTC-6
Time (UTC)
2026-09-06 18:46 UTC
Depth
10.0 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
Coordinates
16.363, -99.242
Felt reports
Felt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light)
Tsunami
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Significance
355 / 1000 · notable event
Solution quality
73 seismic stations used · 172° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
Review status
Reviewed by a seismologist
Catalog
USGS

Open the official catalog record

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 IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.

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 975,230 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.

PlaceDistancePopulation
Copala39.1 km NE6,619
Cruz Grande41.9 km NNE11,783
Jalapa43.6 km NNE1,651
Las Vigas44.3 km N4,504
Cuautepec50.0 km NNE3,567
San Marcos50.8 km NNW13,282
La Dicha51.2 km NNE1,204
Marquelia51.5 km ENE6,553
Llano de la Puerta52.1 km NW1,322
El Polvorín52.7 km ENE1,415

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

28 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.

Be first to know about the next earthquake near 39 km SW of Copala, Mexico

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Frequently asked questions

How strong was the 39 km SW of Copala, Mexico earthquake?

Magnitude 4.8 (body-wave magnitude), at a depth of 10.0 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 6, 2026, 12:46 PM (local time at the epicentre — CST, UTC-6). In universal time: 2026-09-06 18:46 UTC.

Was it felt?

Felt by 2 people · community intensity IV (light). Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.

Was there a tsunami warning?

No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.

Which towns are closest to the epicentre?

The closest is Copala, 39.1 km NE (population 6,619).

Are earthquakes normal in this area?

Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.4 (5 km N of Azoyú, Mexico, 1995), and 28 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.