On Monday Night a Shallow M6.3 Earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean 192km from Apia (Samoa).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 22nd, 2026. Last updated April 18th, 2026.

A shallow and strong Magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck in the South Pacific Ocean 192 kilometer from Apia, Samoa in the night of Monday March 23rd, 2026. Around 200 thousand people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is American Samoa.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the South Pacific Ocean, 169 kilometers (105 mi) off the coast of Samoa, 192 kilometer southwest of Apia in Tuamasaga. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 12 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Mar 23, 2026 04:30 (Apia Time) - Mar 22, 2026 15:30 Universal Time.
Location:	192 km SW of Apia, Tuamasaga, Samoa. Coordinates 15°20'15"S 172°39'7"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.3 Detected by 27 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.06 .
Depth:	12 km (7 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	V Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 200 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 200 thousand people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is IV, which corresponds with light shaking and likely no damage. Roughly 67,680 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 140 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Samoa , around 200 thousand people, with impact levels up to IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of American Samoa too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
136,900	III	Weak	Probably none
67,680	IV	Light	Likely none
0	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. Samoa and American Samoa are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

Located 192 kilometer (119 mi) southwest of the epicenter of this earthquake, Apia (Tuamasaga, Samoa) is the nearest significant population center. Apia experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly IV. That level implies light shaking and likely no damage.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
192 km (119 mi) NE from epicenter	Apia Tuamasaga, Samoa.	IV Light
240 km (149 mi) NE from epicenter	Pago Pago Eastern District, American Samoa.

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 IV.

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.

15 Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 15 smaller aftershocks were detected. Just 7 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-5.9 was detected 37 km (23 mi) southwest of this earthquake.

Before this earthquake struck, 9 smaller foreshocks occurred. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 3 mins earlier. It measured a magnitude of 6.2

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
Foreshock	M 4.4	9 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 19:07 (Apia Time)	35 km (21 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 6.2	9 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 19:15 (Apia Time)	37 km (23 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.4	9 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 19:31 (Apia Time)	49 km (30 mi) W from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.4	9 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 19:36 (Apia Time)	34 km (21 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.4	8 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 20:11 (Apia Time)	27 km (16 mi) W from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.5	5 hrs earlier Mar 22, 2026 23:57 (Apia Time)	55 km (34 mi) W from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.6	1 hr earlier Mar 23, 2026 03:08 (Apia Time)	15 km (9 mi) E from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 6.2	3 mins earlier Mar 23, 2026 04:27 (Apia Time)	12 km (8 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 6.2	3 mins earlier Mar 23, 2026 04:27 (Apia Time)	37 km (23 mi) W from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 6.3	Mar 23, 2026 04:30 (Apia Time)	-
Aftershock	M 5.6	30 mins later Mar 23, 2026 05:00 (Apia Time)	62 km (39 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.8	53 mins later Mar 23, 2026 05:23 (Apia Time)	54 km (34 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.8	53 mins later Mar 23, 2026 05:23 (Apia Time)	54 km (34 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.9	7 hrs later Mar 23, 2026 11:26 (Apia Time)	37 km (23 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.7	15 hrs later Mar 23, 2026 19:02 (Apia Time)	35 km (22 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 5.0	17 hrs later Mar 23, 2026 21:44 (Apia Time)	20 km (13 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.3	20 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 00:40 (Apia Time)	49 km (31 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	20 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 00:58 (Apia Time)	40 km (25 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	21 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 01:25 (Apia Time)	41 km (25 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	21 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 01:27 (Apia Time)	68 km (42 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	21 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 01:44 (Apia Time)	24 km (15 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.2	21 hrs later Mar 24, 2026 01:58 (Apia Time)	43 km (26 mi) W from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.5	1 day later Mar 24, 2026 12:07 (Apia Time)	80 km (50 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.4	1 day later Mar 24, 2026 12:10 (Apia Time)	86 km (53 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.9	1 day later Mar 24, 2026 13:30 (Apia Time)	86 km (54 mi) S from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

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).

This is the strongest earthquake in 3 years

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since May 10th, 2023, when a 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit 200 km (124 mi) further west. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.3 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 3 years.

Low tsunami risk

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.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so 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	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 6.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 12 km (7 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 18/04/26 19:18 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.