M5.8 Earthquake 71 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026
2026-07-18 17:26:26 UTC (2026-07-18) · approx. 11:26 AM UTC-6 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.2 (moderate). Aftershock of the M5.9 mainshock.
On July 18, 2026 at 17:26 UTC, a magnitude 5.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 71 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico, at a depth of 13.0 km and coordinates 14.2397°, -92.8648°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 93 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 518, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is La Blanca (population 34,307).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 8 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 6.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred 13 days ago 50 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 15 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Mexico, a region characterized by the Middle America Trench, where the Cocos Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate. The nearest mapped fault system is the Middle America Trench. View all earthquakes in Mexico.
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
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 | 6,957,668 |
| MMI 4 | light | 1,137,515 |
Earthquake Details
-92.8648°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico?
The magnitude 5.8 earthquake that struck 71 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico on July 18, 2026 at 17:26 UTC had a depth of 13.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 14.2397°, -92.8648°, which is 71 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico. The nearest populated place is La Blanca (population 34,307). View all earthquakes in Mexico.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.8 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 50 km WSW of Brisas Barra de Suchiate, Mexico. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Mexico had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Mexico was the M8.1 Chiapas earthquake of September 8, 2017. Today's magnitude 5.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t1n5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 18, 2026). M5.8 Earthquake 71 km SW of Puerto Madero, Mexico — July 18, 2026. Retrieved August 7, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t1n5/