M5.3 Earthquake 128 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa — January 20, 2026
2026-01-20 05:38:54 UTC (2026-01-20) · approx. 5:38 PM UTC-12 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On January 20, 2026 at 05:38 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 128 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.8900°, -172.7315°. This earthquake was detected by 28 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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
-172.7315°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Gataivai, Samoa?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 128 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa on January 20, 2026 at 05:38 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 -14.8900°, -172.7315°, which is 128 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000rqqz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 20, 2026). M5.3 Earthquake 128 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa — January 20, 2026. Retrieved May 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rqqz/