M4.9 Earthquake 81 km NNW of Malfa, Italy — October 8, 2026
2026-10-08 03:42:52 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 4:42 AM UTC+1 local
On October 8, 2026 at 03:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 deep-focus earthquake struck 81 km NNW of Malfa, Italy, at a depth of 367.1 km and coordinates 39.2061°, 14.3516°. This earthquake was detected by 31 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Italy, a region characterized by the Apennine extensional belt and Calabrian subduction zone, where Africa-Eurasia convergence produces complex faulting. View all earthquakes in Italy.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
14.3516°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Malfa, Italy?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 81 km NNW of Malfa, Italy on October 8, 2026 at 03:42 UTC had a depth of 367.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 39.2061°, 14.3516°, which is 81 km NNW of Malfa, Italy. View all earthquakes in Italy.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Italy had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Italy was the M7.2 Messina earthquake of December 28, 1908. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u0w0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 8, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 81 km NNW of Malfa, Italy — October 8, 2026. Retrieved October 8, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u0w0/