Shallow M6.0 earthquake hits offshore Antigua and Barbuda

A shallow earthquake measuring M6.0 struck 70 km (43 miles) east-southeast of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda at 14:50 UTC on May 16, 2026. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 30.0 km (18.6 miles), as reported by the USGS.

The coordinates of the event were -61.2°E, 17.5°N, locating the epicenter offshore, east of the island of Barbuda. This region of the northeastern Caribbean is characterized by several small island communities and lies in close proximity to the boundary of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Given the offshore setting, nearby infrastructure may include maritime routes, ports, and regional aviation links serving Antigua and Barbuda as well as neighboring islands.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

A total of 54 felt reports were submitted in connection with this quake. The significance index is 581 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Antigua and Barbuda lie near the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Plate, an area known for moderate to strong seismic activity resulting from stress between the Caribbean and North American plates.

This information was last updated at 15:16 UTC on May 16, 2026.