M6.0

M 6.0 - off the coast of Oregon

Strong Earthquake · January 16, 2026 · off the coast of Oregon

Key Insights

•This M6.0 strong earthquake ranks #163 out of 470 events in the database.
•At M6.0, this is 0.3 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.
•At 10.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).
•This earthquake triggered a tsunami advisory — only 174 of 470 events (37%) in our database generated tsunami warnings.
•A USGS significance score of 631 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Depth

10.0 km

Tsunami

Yes

Felt Reports

213

Significance

631

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M6.0(mww)
Classification	Strong Earthquake
Location	off the coast of Oregon
Date & Time	January 16, 2026 12:25:53
Coordinates	43.6857N, 128.0574W
Depth	10.0 km (Shallow)
Tsunami	Yes — Advisory/Warning Issued
Felt Reports	213 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	3.6
MMI (Modified Mercalli)	0.0
PAGER Alert Level	green
Significance Score	631 / 3,000
Status	reviewed

Magnitude Scale Context

Minor

3-3.9

Light

4-4.9

Moderate

5-5.9

Strong

6-6.9

Major

At M6.0, this is classified as a Strong earthquake. Earthquakes of this size can cause severe damage in populated areas within tens of miles of the epicenter.

Official USGS Page: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000rq0d

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the off the coast of Oregon earthquake?

The off the coast of Oregon earthquake had a magnitude of 6 mww, classified as a "Strong" earthquake on the magnitude scale. Earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure over a wide area.

Where exactly did this earthquake occur and how deep was it?

This earthquake struck at coordinates 43.6857N, 128.0574W, at a depth of 10.0 km. Shallow earthquakes (under 20 km) tend to cause more surface damage than deeper events.

Did this earthquake trigger a tsunami warning?

Yes, a tsunami advisory or warning was associated with this earthquake. Coastal residents in affected areas should always follow local emergency management guidance during tsunami events. Even small tsunamis can produce dangerous currents.

How many people felt this earthquake?

213 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 3.6, indicating light shaking noticed by some people.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on January 16, 2026 at 12:25:53. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 631 out of a possible 3,000, which factors in magnitude, felt reports, and potential impact. This is a moderately significant seismic event. The PAGER alert level was "green", indicating the estimated level of response needed.

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Key Insights

•This M6.0 strong earthquake ranks #163 out of 470 events in the database.

•At M6.0, this is 0.3 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.

•At 10.0 km depth, this is classified as a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes typically cause stronger ground shaking and more damage than deeper events (avg depth: 27 km).

•This earthquake triggered a tsunami advisory — only 174 of 470 events (37%) in our database generated tsunami warnings.

•A USGS significance score of 631 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude

M6.0(mww)

Classification

Strong Earthquake

Location

off the coast of Oregon

Date & Time

January 16, 2026 12:25:53

Coordinates

43.6857N, 128.0574W

Depth

10.0 km (Shallow)

Tsunami

Yes — Advisory/Warning Issued

Felt Reports

213 reports submitted to USGS

CDI (Community Intensity)

3.6

MMI (Modified Mercalli)

0.0

PAGER Alert Level

green

Significance Score

631 / 3,000

Status

reviewed