Significant M5.2 Earthquake struck on Monday Night near Guwahati in India.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on January 4th, 2026. Last updated February 3rd, 2026.

In the night of Monday January 5th, 2026, a significant M5.2 earthquake hit under land 64 kilometer from Guwahati in India. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 48 million people. Other countries near the epicenter include Bangladesh and Bhutan.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in India, 64 kilometer (40 mi) east-northeast of Guwahati in Assam. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 51 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jan 5, 2026 04:17 (Kolkata Time) - Jan 4, 2026 22:47 Universal Time.
Location:	64 km ENE of Guwahati, Assam, India. Coordinates 26°20'14"N 92°21'54"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.2 Detected by 207 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.04 .
Depth:	51 km (32 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

Three persons injured at Morigaon, several homes and buildings damaged in the Morigaon-Nagaon area.

Based on scientific estimates by the USGS, the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 100% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 48 million people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 48 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 2,430,000 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 31 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. In India , around 35 million people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). In Bangladesh , around 13 million people. A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Bhutan and China.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
1,299,000	II	Very weak	None
30,870,000	III	Weak	Probably none
13,720,000	IV	Light	Likely none
2,430,000	V	Moderate	Very light
0	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. India , Bangladesh and Bhutan are all within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Located 10 kilometer (6 mi) north of the epicenter of this earthquake, Morigaon (Assam, India) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Morigaon is estimated to be around level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (moderate shaking, very light damage).

Major cities near this earthquake: Guwahati is located 64 km to the west-southwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Sylhet is located 167 km to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Shillong is located 98 km to the south-southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
10 km (6 mi) S from epicenter	Morigaon Assam, India.	V Moderate
18 km (11 mi) NE from epicenter	Dhing Assam, India.	V Moderate
30 km (19 mi) NW from epicenter	Khārupatia Assam, India.	V Moderate
35 km (22 mi) WNW from epicenter	Mangaldai Assam, India.	IV Light
42 km (26 mi) NNE from epicenter	Dhekiajuli Assam, India.	IV Light
53 km (33 mi) NNW from epicenter	Udalguri Assam, India.	IV Light
54 km (34 mi) NE from epicenter	Tezpur Assam, India.	IV Light
62 km (39 mi) SE from epicenter	Hojāi Assam, India.	IV Light
63 km (39 mi) NNE from epicenter	Rangāpāra Assam, India.	IV Light
64 km (40 mi) WSW from epicenter	Guwahati Assam, India.	IV Light
66 km (41 mi) WSW from epicenter	North Guwāhāti Assam, India.	IV Light
76 km (47 mi) W from epicenter	Rangia Assam, India.	IV Light
84 km (52 mi) W from epicenter	Hājo Assam, India.	IV Light
98 km (61 mi) SSW from epicenter	Shillong Meghalaya, India.	III Weak
104 km (65 mi) SE from epicenter	Lumding Railway Colony Assam, India.	IV Light
120 km (75 mi) ESE from epicenter	Diphu Assam, India.	IV Light
135 km (84 mi) W from epicenter	Barpeta Assam, India.	IV Light
138 km (86 mi) W from epicenter	Howli Assam, India.	III Weak
140 km (87 mi) W from epicenter	Barpeta Road Assam, India.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) ESE from epicenter	Dimāpur Nagaland, India.	III Weak
143 km (89 mi) SW from epicenter	Nongstoin Meghalaya, India.	III Weak
145 km (90 mi) ESE from epicenter	Bokajān Assam, India.	III Weak
146 km (91 mi) SSE from epicenter	Hāflong Assam, India.	III Weak
149 km (93 mi) NE from epicenter	Itānagar Arunachal Pradesh, India.	III Weak
157 km (98 mi) ENE from epicenter	Naharlagun Arunachal Pradesh, India.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) E from epicenter	Golāghāt Assam, India.	III Weak
160 km (99 mi) SSW from epicenter	Chhātak Sylhet, Bangladesh.	III Weak
163 km (101 mi) S from epicenter	Karīmganj Assam, India.	III Weak
167 km (104 mi) W from epicenter	Abhayāpuri Assam, India.	III Weak
167 km (104 mi) SSW from epicenter	Sylhet Sylhet, Bangladesh.	III Weak
173 km (107 mi) SSE from epicenter	Silchar Assam, India.	III Weak
174 km (108 mi) W from epicenter	Goālpāra Assam, India.	III Weak
181 km (112 mi) W from epicenter	Bongaigaon Assam, India.	III Weak
185 km (115 mi) S from epicenter	Hailākāndi Assam, India.	III Weak
189 km (117 mi) ENE from epicenter	Jorhāt Assam, India.	III Weak
189 km (117 mi) ESE from epicenter	Kohīma Nagaland, India.	III Weak
191 km (119 mi) E from epicenter	Wokha Nagaland, India.	II Weak
197 km (122 mi) E from epicenter	Mariāni Assam, India.	III Weak
199 km (124 mi) ENE from epicenter	North Lakhimpur Assam, India.	III Weak
214 km (133 mi) SSW from epicenter	Maulavi Bāzār Sylhet, Bangladesh.
230 km (143 mi) SW from epicenter	Netrakona Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh.	III Weak
232 km (144 mi) SE from epicenter	Imphāl Manipur, India.	III Weak
235 km (146 mi) WNW from epicenter	Tsirang Chirang, Bhutan.
238 km (148 mi) SSW from epicenter	Habiganj Sylhet, Bangladesh.
264 km (164 mi) SW from epicenter	Kishorganj Dhaka, Bangladesh.
264 km (164 mi) SW from epicenter	Mymensingh Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh.
277 km (172 mi) WSW from epicenter	Sherpur Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh.
282 km (175 mi) ENE from epicenter	Dibrugarh Assam, India.
283 km (176 mi) WNW from epicenter	Punākha Punakha, Bhutan.
289 km (180 mi) SW from epicenter	Jamālpur Mymensingh Division, Bangladesh.
290 km (180 mi) SSW from epicenter	Bhairab Bāzār Dhaka, Bangladesh.
291 km (181 mi) W from epicenter	Koch Bihār West Bengal, India.
292 km (181 mi) S from epicenter	Aizawl Mizoram, India.
295 km (183 mi) W from epicenter	Lalmonirhat Rangpur Division, Bangladesh.
298 km (185 mi) WNW from epicenter	Thimphu Thimphu, Bhutan.
299 km (186 mi) SSW from epicenter	Agartala Tripura, India.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is V.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 92 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 92 people have reported shaking in 31 places in 2 countries (India, Bangladesh).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Gauhati, Assam, India: 11 people.
Dimapur, Nagaland, India: 10 people.
Sualkuchi, Assam, India: 10 people.
Tezpur, Assam, India: 9 people.
Shillong, Meghalaya, India: 8 people.
Dispur, Assam, India: 6 people.
North Guwahati, Assam, India: 4 people.
Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, India: 3 people.
Nagaon, Assam, India: 3 people.
Dulia Gaon, Assam, India: 2 people.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. Just 12 sec after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.9 was detected 6 km (4 mi) west-southwest of this earthquake.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.2	Jan 5, 2026 04:17 (Kolkata Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.9	12 sec later Jan 5, 2026 04:17 (Kolkata Time)	6 km (4 mi) WSW from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 14th, 2025, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 44 km (27 mi) further north-northwest. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on April 28th, 2021.

In total, 9 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.2 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every year.

Tsunami very unlikely

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 51 km (32 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 03/02/26 01:48 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.