Shallow M5.9 earthquake hits southern East Pacific Rise

An earthquake with a magnitude of M5.9 was recorded at 12:35 UTC on September 2, 2026, in the southern East Pacific Rise. The quake struck at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), as per data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The coordinates for this event are -35.0°S, 109.0°W, placing the earthquake far offshore along the southern segment of the East Pacific Rise, a mid-ocean ridge located in the southeast Pacific Ocean. There are no populated settlements or inhabited landmasses located in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter, as this region lies deep in the ocean.

Given the remote, oceanic location along an active mid-ocean ridge, the nearest critical infrastructure would be limited to international shipping lanes and potential undersea communication cables traversing the Pacific.

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

The significance index for this event is 536 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

The East Pacific Rise is a tectonically active region where the Pacific Plate and Nazca Plate are diverging. Seismic activity here is common, primarily characterized by shallow earthquakes along the ridge system due to extensional tectonics and seafloor spreading.

This information was last updated at 12:59 UTC on September 2, 2026.