Unusually powerful M5.9 Earthquake hit 168km from Khovd in Mongolia on Sunday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on April 26th, 2026.

In the morning of Sunday April 26th, 2026, an unusually powerful MAG-5.9 earthquake hit under land 168 kilometer from Khovd in Mongolia. Around 140 thousand people have been exposed to shaking. Another nearby country is China.

Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Mongolia, 168 kilometer (104 mi) south-east of Khovd in Hovd. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Apr 26, 2026 11:23 (Hovd Time) - Apr 26, 2026 04:23 Universal Time.
Location:	168 km SE of Khovd, Hovd, Mongolia. Coordinates 46°47'19"N 92°58'5"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 762 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.022 .
Depth:	10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe 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

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 140 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 140 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

An estimated 0 people were exposed to level VIII. At this level, severe shaking and likely moderate to heavy damage can be expected. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 110 thousand). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Mongolia , around 130 thousand people, with impact levels up to VIII (severe shaking, likely moderate to heavy damage). Roughly 10 thousand people were exposed to shaking in China .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
20,960	III	Weak	Probably none
106,100	IV	Light	Likely none
6,250	V	Moderate	Very light
4,120	VI	Strong	Light
520	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Mongolia and China .

Located 168 kilometer (104 mi) south-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Khovd (Hovd, Mongolia) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Khovd is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely 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)
168 km (104 mi) NW from epicenter	Khovd Hovd, Mongolia.	IV Light
256 km (159 mi) E from epicenter	Altai Govĭ-Altay, Mongolia.
263 km (163 mi) W from epicenter	Fuyun Xinjiang, China.
311 km (193 mi) E from epicenter	Uliastay Dzabkhan, Mongolia.
330 km (205 mi) NW from epicenter	Ölgii Bayan-Ölgiy, Mongolia.
340 km (211 mi) W from epicenter	Dure Xinjiang, China.
361 km (224 mi) N from epicenter	Ulaangom Uvs, Mongolia.
383 km (238 mi) W from epicenter	Altay Xinjiang, China.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VIII. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in China.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Altay, Xinjiang, China: 1 person.

2 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 2 smaller aftershocks. At a distance of 22 km (14 mi) north-east of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 4 mins later. It measured a magnitude of 4.3

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 5.9	Apr 26, 2026 11:23 (Hovd Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.3	4 mins later Apr 26, 2026 11:27 (Hovd Time)	22 km (14 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	7 mins later Apr 26, 2026 11:30 (Hovd Time)	19 km (12 mi) NE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

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 an unusually powerful earthquake

No earthquake of this strength has struck this region for a long time. Our data goes back 10 years, and no earthquakes measuring a magnitude of 5.9 or higher have been detected within 300 km (186 mi) of this epicenter.

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 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 26/04/26 12:48 (). 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.