M4.4 Earthquake 9 km SSW of Atoka, New Mexico — April 6, 2026
2026-04-06 20:01:35 UTC (2026-04-06) · approx. 1:01 PM UTC-7 local
Felt by 171 people across surrounding communities. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 5.2 (strong).
On April 6, 2026 at 20:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 9 km SSW of Atoka, New Mexico, at a depth of 5.0 km and coordinates 32.6908°, -104.4240°. The earthquake was reported felt by 171 peopleacross surrounding communities, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 5.2 (strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 64 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Atoka (population 1,420).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in New Mexico, a region characterized by the Rio Grande Rift, a continental rift zone where the crust is thinning and extending. The nearest mapped fault system is the Rio Grande Rift. View all earthquakes in New Mexico.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
What the Shaking Felt Like
At MMI 5.2 (strong), people in the most strongly affected areas would have experienced: Moderate shaking that everyone in the area would feel. Sleeping people are awakened. Dishes and windows may break. Unstable objects may be knocked over.
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 171 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 | 2,864,598 |
| MMI 4 | light | 63,944 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 299 |
Earthquake Details
-104.4240°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Atoka, New Mexico?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 9 km SSW of Atoka, New Mexico on April 6, 2026 at 20:01 UTC had a depth of 5.0 km. It was felt by 171 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 5.2 (strong). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 32.6908°, -104.4240°, which is 9 km SSW of Atoka, New Mexico. The nearest populated place is Atoka (population 1,420). View all earthquakes in New Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has New Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in New Mexico was the M6.2 Socorro earthquake of November 15, 1906. Today's magnitude 4.4 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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: us6000sn3a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 6, 2026). M4.4 Earthquake 9 km SSW of Atoka, New Mexico — April 6, 2026. Retrieved June 29, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sn3a/