Strong M6.0 Earthquake struck on Saturday Morning in the Caribbean Sea near Saint John’s (Antigua and Barbuda).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 16th, 2026.

A strong MAG-6.0 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea 57 kilometer from Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda in the morning of Saturday May 16th, 2026. Roughly 580 thousand people may have felt this earthquake. Other nearby countries are Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Dominica and Martinique.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Caribbean Sea, 43 kilometers (26 mi) off the coast of Antigua and Barbuda, 57 kilometer east of Saint John’s in Saint John. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 59 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 16, 2026 10:50 (Antigua Time) - May 16, 2026 14:50 Universal Time.
Location:	57 km east of Saint John’s, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda. Coordinates 17°15'25"N 61°19'37"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.0 Detected by 31 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.034 .
Depth:	59 km (37 mi) A quite shallow depth.
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 580 thousand people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 580 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

An estimated 411,700 people were exposed to level IV. At this level, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.

People in 8 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 390 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Guadeloupe , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Antigua and Barbuda , around 100 thousand people. In Saint Kitts and Nevis , around 50 thousand people. In Montserrat, Caribbean Netherlands, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy and Anguilla, a smaller number of people were exposed.

Nearby towns and cities

12 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Antigua and Barbuda , Guadeloupe , Montserrat , Saint Kitts and Nevis , Anguilla , Dominica and Martinique . Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in Saint Lucia, U.S. Virgin Islands and British Virgin Islands.

Saint John’s in Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 57 kilometer (35 mi) east of Saint John’s. The intensity of shaking and damage in Saint John’s is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is 0. 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

Shaking reported by 80 people in 8 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 80 people have reported shaking in 40 places in 8 countries (Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, Martinique, Dominica, British Virgin Islands).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Saint Johnʿs, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda: 7 people.
• Bolands, Saint Mary, Antigua and Barbuda: 5 people.
• Basseterre, Saint George Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis: 4 people.
• Cedar Grove, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda: 4 people.
• Point-à-Pitre, Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe: 4 people.
• Low Lands, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles: 4 people.
• Baie-Mahault, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe: 3 people.
• Petit-Bourg, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe: 3 people.
• Cul De Sac, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles: 3 people.
• Charlestown, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis: 2 people.

Aftershocks detected

Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. A 3.6 magnitude earthquake hit 14 hrs earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

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.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

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 May 16th, 2026, when a 6 magnitude earthquake hit 33 km (20 mi) further north-east. An even stronger magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck on October 27th, 2025.

In total, 3 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6 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

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

Sources

Last updated 16/05/26 23:08 (). 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.

1. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260516_0000181
2. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
3. Google Maps: Static API
4. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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