Unusually powerful M5.6 Earthquake hit in the North Atlantic Ocean 145km from Bridgetown (Barbados) on Saturday Afternoon.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 30th, 2026. Last updated May 31st, 2026.

In the late afternoon of Saturday May 30th, 2026, an unusually powerful M5.6 earthquake hit in the North Atlantic Ocean 145 kilometer from Bridgetown, Barbados. Roughly 370 thousand people may have felt this earthquake. Other countries near the epicenter include Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Atlantic Ocean, 135 kilometers (84 mi) off the coast of Barbados, 145 kilometer south-east of Bridgetown in Saint Michael. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 35 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 30, 2026 17:27 (Barbados Time) - May 30, 2026 21:27 Universal Time.
Location:	145 km SE of Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados. Coordinates 11°54'30"N 59°6'10"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.6 Detected by 24 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.063 .
Depth:	35 km (22 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light 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 370 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 370 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.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is III, which corresponds with weak shaking and probably no damage. Roughly 335,800 people are expected to be exposed to this level.

People in 4 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Barbados , around 310 thousand people, with impact levels up to III (weak shaking, probably no damage). In Trinidad and Tobago , around 60 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
29,370	II	Very weak	None
335,800	III	Weak	Probably none
0	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

Barbados , Trinidad and Tobago , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Bridgetown in Saint Michael, Barbados. Bridgetown is located 145 kilometer (90 mi) south-east of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Bridgetown is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
145 km (90 mi) NW from epicenter	Bridgetown Saint Michael, Barbados.	III Weak
195 km (121 mi) SW from epicenter	Scarborough Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago.	III Weak
265 km (165 mi) SW from epicenter	Sangre Grande Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago.
269 km (167 mi) NW from epicenter	Kingstown Saint George, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
270 km (168 mi) NW from epicenter	Kingstown Park Saint George, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
277 km (172 mi) SW from epicenter	Arima Borough of Arima, Trinidad and Tobago.
283 km (176 mi) SW from epicenter	Paradise Tunapuna/Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago.
286 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter	Tunapuna Tunapuna/Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago.
288 km (179 mi) SW from epicenter	Rio Claro Mayaro, Trinidad and Tobago.
289 km (180 mi) W from epicenter	Saint George's Saint George, Grenada.
296 km (184 mi) SW from epicenter	Chaguanas Chaguanas, Trinidad and Tobago.
296 km (184 mi) SW from epicenter	Laventille San Juan-Laventille, Trinidad and Tobago.
297 km (185 mi) SW from epicenter	Port of Spain Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is III.

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 22 people in 6 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 22 people have reported shaking in 12 places in 6 countries (Barbados, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Oistins, Christ Church, Barbados: 5 people.
Crane, Saint Philip, Barbados: 3 people.
Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados: 2 people.
Saint Georgeʿs, Saint George, Grenada: 2 people.
Bulkeley, Saint George, Barbados: 2 people.
Laborie, Laborie, Saint Lucia: 2 people.
Speightstown, Saint Peter, Barbados: 1 person.
Chateaubelair, Saint David, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines: 1 person.
Vreed en Hoop, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Guyana: 1 person.
Holetown, Saint James, Barbados: 1 person.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

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 9 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 December 6th, 2016, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 219 km (136 mi) further southwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 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 10 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 5.6. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 35 km (22 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 31/05/26 15:48 (). 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.