On Sunday Evening a Significant M5.6 Earthquake struck near Thimphu in Bhutan.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on June 7th, 2026. Last updated July 18th, 2026.

Under land 16 kilometer from Thimphu in Bhutan, a significant M5.6 earthquake occurred just before midnight of Sunday June 7th, 2026. Roughly 41 million people may have felt this earthquake. Other countries near the epicenter include India, Bangladesh, Nepal and China.

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Earthquake Summary

The earthquake struck on land in Bhutan, 16 kilometer (10 mi) north-east of Thimphu. The center of this earthquake had a quite shallow depth of 34 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Jun 7, 2026 11:36PM (Thimphu Time) - Jun 7, 2026 17:36 Universal Time.
Location:	16 km NE of Thimphu, Bhutan. Coordinates 27°34'15"N 89°45'37"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.6 Detected by 21 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.068 .
Depth:	34 km (21 mi) A quite shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VI Strong 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

The US Geographic Survey (USGS) describes the impact of this earthquake as follows:

At least 404 homes and many buildings damaged in the Mongar-Punakha-Wangdue Phodrang area. Rockfalls occurred in Trashigang.

Based on scientific estimates by the 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 41 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 41 million 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 V, which corresponds with moderate shaking and very light damage. Roughly 40,860 people are expected to be exposed to this level. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 38 million). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 5 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 28 million people were exposed to shaking in India , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. Other countries where people were exposed to shaking include Bhutan, China, Bangladesh and Nepal.

Nearby towns and cities

Bhutan , India , Bangladesh , Nepal and China are all located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Punākha in Punakha, Bhutan is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 12 kilometer (7 mi) west of Punākha. The intensity of shaking and damage in Punākha is estimated to be around level V on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (moderate shaking, very light damage).

Multiple major population centers exist within 300km of the earthquake that struck today. Guwahati is located 250 km to the south-east and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Siliguri is located 163 km to the southwest and experienced an intensity of III (weak shaking, probably no damage). Jaigaon is located 89 km to the southwest 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

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 V.

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 82 people in 4 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 82 people have reported shaking in 39 places in 4 countries (Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Thimphu, Thimphu, Bhutan: 19 people.
• Dacca, Dhāka, Bangladesh: 7 people.
• Bajo, Wangdue Phodrang, Bhutan: 6 people.
• Ţungī, Gazipur, Bangladesh: 4 people.
• Phuentsholing, Chhukha, Bhutan: 3 people.
• Shilīguri, Bangla, India: 3 people.
• Alipurduar, Bangla, India: 3 people.
• Dispur, Assam, India: 2 people.
• Rangpūr, Rangpūr, Bangladesh: 2 people.
• Tshongdue, Paro, Bhutan: 2 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.

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.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major 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 January 7th, 2025, when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit 260 km (162 mi) further northwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 3 earthquakes 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 3 years.

Tsunami very unlikely

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

Sources

Last updated 18/07/26 22:38 (). 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.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000sr9j
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260607_0000275
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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