4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 157 km NW of Caluula, Somalia — January 3, 2026

2026-01-03 19:10:43 UTC (2026-01-03) · approx. 10:10 PM UTC+3 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time19:10 UTC≈ 10:10 PM UTC+3
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates12.980°, 49.740°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On January 3, 2026 at 19:10 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 157 km NW of Caluula, Somalia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 12.9804°, 49.7398°. This earthquake was detected by 44 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 12.98°, 49.74°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
12.9804°N
49.7398°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000rmaw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
44
Azimuthal Gap
164.0°
Min Station Distance
5.433°
RMS Residual
0.53 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-07 22:11:53 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Caluula, Somalia?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 157 km NW of Caluula, Somalia on January 3, 2026 at 19:10 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 12.9804°, 49.7398°, which is 157 km NW of Caluula, Somalia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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

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→ What to do during an earthquake→ Create an emergency plan→ Emergency kit essentials→ See all M4.5+ earthquakes today

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000rmaw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 3, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 157 km NW of Caluula, Somalia — January 3, 2026. Retrieved May 13, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rmaw/