M5.3 Earthquake 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — September 17, 2026
2026-09-17 06:42:41 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 6:42 PM UTC-12 local
On September 17, 2026 at 06:42 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -14.4792°, -174.8957°. This earthquake was detected by 35 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.
Earthquake Details
-174.8957°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna on September 17, 2026 at 06:42 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 -14.4792°, -174.8957°, which is 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna.
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.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000thzw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 17, 2026). M5.3 Earthquake 191 km SE of Mata-Utu, Wallis and Futuna — September 17, 2026. Retrieved September 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000thzw/