5.0

M5.0 Earthquake southeast of Easter Island — February 20, 2026

2026-02-20 07:21:12 UTC (2026-02-20) · approx. 1:21 AM UTC-6 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mww)
Time07:21 UTC≈ 1:21 AM UTC-6
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-37.065°, -96.543°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On February 20, 2026 at 07:21 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck southeast of Easter Island, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -37.0647°, -96.5435°. This earthquake was detected by 58 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -37.06°, -96.54°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mww
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
-37.0647°N
-96.5435°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000sacu
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
58
Azimuthal Gap
152.0°
Min Station Distance
19.139°
RMS Residual
0.74 sec
Last Updated
2026-03-07 07:47:43 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake southeast of Easter Island?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck southeast of Easter Island on February 20, 2026 at 07:21 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -37.0647°, -96.5435°, which is southeast of Easter Island.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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

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Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sacu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, February 20, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake southeast of Easter Island — February 20, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sacu/