M6.0 Earthquake 19 km SE of Picota, Peru — April 1, 2026
2026-04-01 11:20:27 UTC (2026-04-01) · approx. 6:20 AM UTC-5 local
Felt by 15 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.3 (moderate).
On April 1, 2026 at 11:20 UTC, a magnitude 6.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 19 km SE of Picota, Peru, at a depth of 126.0 km and coordinates -7.0529°, -76.2192°. The earthquake was reported felt by 15 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.3 (moderate). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 189 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 560, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Picota (population 7,941).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 8.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Peru, a region characterized by the northern Peru-Chile subduction zone, complicated by the subduction of the Nazca Ridge. The nearest mapped fault system is the Peru-Chile Trench. View all earthquakes in Peru.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
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 15 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 | 1,148,544 |
| MMI 4 | light | 864,578 |
Earthquake Details
-76.2192°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Picota, Peru?
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck 19 km SE of Picota, Peru on April 1, 2026 at 11:20 UTC had a depth of 126.0 km. It was felt by 15 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.3 (moderate). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -7.0529°, -76.2192°, which is 19 km SE of Picota, Peru. The nearest populated place is Picota (population 7,941). View all earthquakes in Peru.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.0 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months and gradually diminish over time.
Has Peru had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Peru was the M8.0 Arequipa earthquake of June 23, 2001. Today's magnitude 6.0 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: us7000s9cg). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 1, 2026). M6.0 Earthquake 19 km SE of Picota, Peru — April 1, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s9cg/