Earthquake.now

Recent Magnitude 6 Earthquakes Worldwide

255 earthquakes between magnitude 6.0 and 6.9 have been recorded worldwide since December 2024 — an average of 13 per month. The most recent are listed below.

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground. A magnitude 6.5 earthquake radiates roughly 84,802 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The average focal depth for events in this band is 50 km.

The countries recording the most earthquakes in this magnitude band are México (1), 日本 (1), Chile (1), Россия (1).

Events in this band make up 0.2% of every earthquake in the catalogue. A magnitude 6 releases about 32 times the energy of a magnitude 5, and about 1,000 times that of a magnitude 4.

80% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 17% intermediate (70–300 km) and 3% deep-focus (over 300 km). The mix is dominated by shallow crustal events, with a minority of intermediate-depth activity.

The largest event in this band on record here is a magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Kuji, Japan on 24 June 2026, at a focal depth of 52 km.

66 earthquakes in this magnitude band carry a USGS link to NOAA tsunami information. The flag does not mean that a tsunami occurred.

Events recorded255
StrongestM6.9
Average depth50 km

Magnitude 6 earthquakes, newest first

100 events listed below, newest first. Times are UTC. Click any column header to re-sort.

Time (UTC) Mag Location Depth (km) Country Details
6.8 Uto, Japan 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Sola, Vanuatu 44.6 — View details View
6.0 Puerto Madero, Mexico 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Sarangani, Philippines 67.9 — View details View
6.7 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 10.0 — View details View
6.3 southeast of the Loyalty Islands 10.0 — View details View
6.5 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 47.8 — View details View
6.4 Lorengau, Papua New Guinea 10.0 — View details View
6.4 South Sandwich Islands region 46.0 — View details View
6.1 Hirara, Japan 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Tobelo, Indonesia 120.9 — View details View
6.0 Noda, Japan 43.6 — View details View
6.0 El Progreso, Mexico 10.0 — View details View
6.1 Jurm, Afghanistan 199.0 — View details View
6.7 Sarangani, Philippines 65.7 — View details View
6.5 Sarangani, Philippines 42.0 — View details View
6.9 Kuji, Japan 51.7 — View details View
6.6 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia 28.4 — View details View
6.6 Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia 10.0 — View details View
6.6 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.7 central Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.3 Dunhuang, China 10.0 — View details View
6.7 Palu, Indonesia 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Pondaguitan, Philippines 111.9 — View details View
6.0 Auckland Islands, New Zealand region 13.7 — View details View
6.4 Mantua, Cuba 33.0 — View details View
6.1 Mantua, Cuba 26.0 — View details View
6.5 Balangonan, Philippines 65.6 — View details View
6.0 Pangyan, Philippines 35.0 — View details View
6.1 Sarangani, Philippines 67.2 — View details View
6.1 Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 35.0 — View details View
6.2 Scarcelli, Italy 247.1 — View details View
6.0 Valparaíso, Chile 15.7 — View details View
6.0 western Indian-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.0 western Indian-Antarctic Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.9 Calama, Chile 109.0 — View details View
6.6 southern East Pacific Rise 10.0 — View details View
6.1 Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda 63.2 — View details View
6.0 Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda 30.0 — View details View
6.7 Ōfunato, Japan 43.6 — View details View
6.2 Tual, Indonesia 146.1 — View details View
6.0 Nena, Philippines 73.3 — View details View
6.1 Sarabetsu, Japan 81.0 — View details View
6.1 Hihifo, Tonga 10.0 — View details View
6.1 Hihifo, Tonga 36.0 — View details View
6.0 south of the Kermadec Islands 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Sarangani, Philippines 99.6 — View details View
6.2 Ternate, Indonesia 35.0 — View details View
6.0 Picota, Peru 108.8 — View details View
6.5 Yamada, Japan 9.5 — View details View
6.3 Hihifo, Tonga 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Hihifo, Tonga 79.7 — View details View
6.2 Lotofagā, Samoa 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Hihifo, Tonga 10.0 — View details View
6.7 northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.1 Isangel, Vanuatu 10.0 — View details View
6.6 South Shetland Islands 4.9 — View details View
6.3 Vallenar, Chile 10.0 — —
6.0 Sant'Angelo, Italy 373.0 — View details View
6.0 Hihifo, Tonga 62.6 — View details View
6.0 Hihifo, Tonga 116.8 — View details View
6.7 Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 — View details View
6.3 Kirakira, Solomon Islands 8.7 — View details View
6.4 Attu Station, Alaska 10.0 — View details View
6.1 Sinabang, Indonesia 26.2 — View details View
6.0 Volcano Islands, Japan region 20.0 — View details View
6.3 Fiji region 596.3 — —
6.3 Nikolski, Alaska 1.0 — View details View
6.1 Nikolski, Alaska 14.0 — View details View
6.0 south of the Fiji Islands 653.8 — View details View
6.0 Kirakira, Solomon Islands 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Ozernovskiy, Russia 56.6 — View details View
6.0 Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia 55.0 — View details View
6.5 Port-Olry, Vanuatu 10.0 — View details View
6.5 Port-Olry, Vanuatu 10.0 — View details View
6.4 Port-Olry, Vanuatu 10.0 — View details View
6.2 Ovalle, Chile 36.9 — View details View
6.0 Gataivai, Samoa 49.5 — View details View
6.2 Fiji region 510.9 — View details View
6.1 Kermadec Islands, New Zealand 184.2 — View details View
6.0 South Sandwich Islands region 68.1 — View details View
6.2 Vilyuchinsk, Russia 52.2 — View details View
6.1 Volcano Islands, Japan region 25.5 — View details View
6.0 Tadine, New Caledonia 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Bandon, Oregon 10.0 — View details View
6.3 Kuril’sk, Russia 21.1 — —
6.7 Tobelo, Indonesia 76.0 — View details View
6.4 Tobelo, Indonesia 31.0 — View details View
6.4 Baculin, Philippines 35.0 — View details View
6.5 Rancho Viejo, Mexico 35.0 — View details View
6.0 southeast Indian Ridge 10.0 — View details View
6.0 Noda, Japan 19.3 — View details View
6.2 Puerto Santa, Peru 66.4 — View details View
6.7 Yilan, Taiwan 35.0 — View details View
6.6 Yilan, Taiwan 67.5 — View details View
6.0 2025 Taitung, Taiwan Earthquake 10.0 — View details View
6.5 Goroka, Papua New Guinea 110.2 — View details View
6.7 Kuji, Japan 16.0 — —
6.7 Hachinohe, Japan 10.7 — View details View

Frequently asked questions

How often do magnitude 6 earthquakes happen?

Our catalogue contains 255 earthquakes in the magnitude 6.0–6.9 band, an average of 13 per month. Globally, each step down the magnitude scale is roughly ten times more frequent than the step above it.

Where do most magnitude 6 earthquakes occur?

The countries recording the most events in this band are México (1), 日本 (1), Chile (1), Россия (1). Offshore events along subduction trenches and mid-ocean ridges are recorded under a regional name rather than a country.

How strong is a magnitude 6 earthquake?

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake radiates roughly 15,080 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

Countries with magnitude 6 earthquakes

For what a magnitude 6 earthquake actually feels like and how the scale works, read the full explainer. See our guides on the magnitude scale, focal depth and why earthquakes cluster.