Shallow M5.9 earthquake hits offshore Micronesia

An earthquake measuring M5.9 was registered at 17:55 UTC on July 30, 2026, about 247 km (153 miles) north-northeast of Colonia, Micronesia. The event struck at a shallow depth of 34.5 km (21.4 miles).

The earthquake’s epicenter was located at 139.0°E, 11.6°N, placing it offshore in the vicinity of the Federated States of Micronesia, well north-northeast of Colonia, a populated area in the region.

Given its offshore location in the Pacific Ocean near Micronesia, the general area is served primarily by inter-island shipping lanes and potential maritime facilities rather than extensive land-based infrastructure.

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

The maximum estimated intensity was 0, and the significance index for this event is 536 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.

The region around Micronesia is tectonically active, situated in a complex zone of interactions between the Pacific Plate and nearby microplates. Earthquakes of this magnitude and depth are typical for offshore Micronesian settings.

This information was last updated at 18:17 UTC on July 30, 2026.