M5.0 Earthquake 141 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa — July 20, 2026
2026-07-20 23:37:57 UTC (10 hours ago) · approx. 11:37 AM UTC-12 local
On July 20, 2026 at 23:37 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 141 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.9677°, -172.8619°. This earthquake was detected by 42 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-172.8619°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Gataivai, Samoa?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 141 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa on July 20, 2026 at 23:37 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 -14.9677°, -172.8619°, which is 141 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000t232). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, July 20, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 141 km SSW of Gataivai, Samoa — July 20, 2026. Retrieved July 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000t232/