On Monday Morning a Shallow M5.2 Earthquake struck 2km from Myanmar.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 18th, 2026.

2 kilometers from Myanmar, a shallow and significant MAG-5.2 earthquake occurred in the morning of Monday May 18th, 2026. The earthquake struck near a very densely populated region. Around 22 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another nearby country is Thailand.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake struck 2 kilometers (1 mi) from Myanmar The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 6 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 18, 2026 08:35AM (Yangon Time) - May 18, 2026 02:05 Universal Time.
Location:	27 mi SE of Yangon, Rangoon, Myanmar. Coordinates 16°26'35"N 96°18'59"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.2 Detected by 17 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.075 .
Depth:	6 mi (10 km) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong 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 22 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 22 million have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

Strong shaking and probably light damage may have been experienced by an estimated 41,790 people. At VI, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. The majority of people (roughly 11 million) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Myanmar , around 22 million people, with impact levels up to VI (strong shaking, probably light damage). Shaking was experienced by inhabitants of Thailand too.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
403,400	II	Very weak	None
11,250,000	III	Weak	Probably none
10,090,000	IV	Light	Likely none
238,500	V	Moderate	Very light
41,790	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

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

Syriam in Rangoon, Myanmar is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 23 miles (37 km) south of Syriam. The intensity of shaking and damage in Syriam is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Yangon is located 27 mi to the northwest and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Mawlamyine is located 87 mi to the east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Bago is located 63 mi to the north and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably 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

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
23 mi (37 km) N from epicenter	Syriam Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
26 mi (42 km) NE from epicenter	Thongwa Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
27 mi (44 km) NW from epicenter	Yangon Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
28 mi (45 km) NW from epicenter	Kanbe Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
32 mi (51 km) NW from epicenter	Twante Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
36 mi (58 km) NE from epicenter	Kayan Rangoon, Myanmar.	IV Light
39 mi (63 km) W from epicenter	Kyaiklat Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	IV Light
43 mi (70 km) W from epicenter	Pyapon Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	IV Light
48 mi (77 km) NW from epicenter	Maubin Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	IV Light
61 mi (98 km) NW from epicenter	Nyaungdon Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	III Weak
61 mi (98 km) N from epicenter	Thanatpin Bago, Myanmar.	IV Light
62 mi (99 km) W from epicenter	Bogale Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	IV Light
63 mi (101 km) N from epicenter	Bago Bago, Myanmar.	III Weak
70 mi (112 km) W from epicenter	Mawlamyinegyunn Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	III Weak
75 mi (121 km) NE from epicenter	Kyaikto Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
76 mi (122 km) W from epicenter	Wakema Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	III Weak
77 mi (124 km) NE from epicenter	Thaton Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
86 mi (139 km) E from epicenter	Martaban Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
86 mi (139 km) E from epicenter	Kyaikkami Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
87 mi (140 km) E from epicenter	Mawlamyine Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
91 mi (146 km) NW from epicenter	Tharyarwady Bago, Myanmar.	III Weak
93 mi (149 km) E from epicenter	Hpa-An Kayin, Myanmar.	III Weak
94 mi (152 km) E from epicenter	Mudon Mon, Myanmar.	III Weak
100 mi (161 km) N from epicenter	Letpandan Bago, Myanmar.	III Weak
101 mi (162 km) NW from epicenter	Hinthada Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	III Weak
107 mi (173 km) W from epicenter	Pathein Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.	III Weak
107 mi (173 km) N from epicenter	Nyaunglebin Bago, Myanmar.	III Weak
135 mi (218 km) E from epicenter	Kyain Seikgyi Township Kayin, Myanmar.
141 mi (227 km) N from epicenter	Pyu Bago, Myanmar.
144 mi (231 km) NW from epicenter	Myanaung Ayeyarwady, Myanmar.
146 mi (235 km) E from epicenter	Myawadi Kayin, Myanmar.
242 km (150 mi) E from epicenter	Mae Sot Tak, Thailand.
242 km (150 mi) E from epicenter	Mae Ramat Tak, Thailand.
151 mi (243 km) N from epicenter	Paungde Bago, Myanmar.
173 mi (278 km) N from epicenter	Taungoo Bago, Myanmar.
180 mi (289 km) NW from epicenter	Pyay Bago, Myanmar.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is VI. 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 49 people in 2 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 49 people have reported shaking in 5 places in 2 countries (Myanmar, Thailand).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Rangoon, Rangun, Myanmar: 41 people.
Syriam, Rangun, Myanmar: 3 people.
Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand: 2 people.
Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand: 2 people.
Thaton, Mon, Myanmar: 1 person.

Aftershocks detected

Since this main shock, 1 smaller aftershock was detected. At a distance of 18 mi (29 km) south of this earthquake, an aftershock struck 13 mins later. It measured a magnitude of 3.2

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
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.2	May 18, 2026 08:35AM (Yangon Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.2	13 mins later May 18, 2026 08:48AM (Yangon Time)	18 mi (29 km) 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.

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.

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

This is the strongest earthquake in 3 years

Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since June 19th, 2023, when a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit 82 mi (132 km) further south. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on January 11th, 2018.

In total, 2 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 5 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 5.2. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 6 mi (10 km). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 18/05/26 04:28 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.