M6.0 Earthquake 70 km ESE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda — May 16, 2026
2026-05-16 14:50:03 UTC (10 hours ago) · approx. 10:50 AM UTC-4 local
Felt by 120 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.7 (moderate).
On May 16, 2026 at 14:50 UTC, a magnitude 6.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 70 km ESE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda, at a depth of 30.0 km and coordinates 17.5127°, -61.1771°. The earthquake was reported felt by 120 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.7 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 209 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 614, making it a moderate-impact event. The nearest populated place is Codrington (population 1,252).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 8.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 4.7 (moderate), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Mild shaking, similar to a passing truck. Hanging objects swing. Glasses and dishes may rattle. Not commonly felt outdoors.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 120 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 175,306 |
| MMI 4 | light | 400,674 |
Earthquake Details
-61.1771°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda?
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck 70 km ESE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda on May 16, 2026 at 14:50 UTC had a depth of 30.0 km. It was felt by 120 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.7 (moderate). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 17.5127°, -61.1771°, which is 70 km ESE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda. The nearest populated place is Codrington (population 1,252).
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.0 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months and gradually diminish over time.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sy84). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 16, 2026). M6.0 Earthquake 70 km ESE of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda — May 16, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sy84/