M3.5 Earthquake 53 km S of Whites City, New Mexico — March 15, 2026
2026-03-15 20:20:12 UTC (2026-03-15) · approx. 1:20 PM UTC-7 local
On March 15, 2026 at 20:20 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 53 km S of Whites City, New Mexico, at a depth of 4.8 km and coordinates 31.6920°, -104.4010°. The earthquake was reported felt by 1 personacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.4 (moderate).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.7 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 157 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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 1 citizen response 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
Earthquake Details
-104.4010°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Whites City, New Mexico?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 53 km S of Whites City, New Mexico on March 15, 2026 at 20:20 UTC had a depth of 4.8 km. It was felt by 1 person with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.4 (moderate). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days 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.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: tx2026ffolko). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 15, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 53 km S of Whites City, New Mexico — March 15, 2026. Retrieved May 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/tx2026ffolko/