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M1.6 Depth: 8.0 km

M1.6 Earthquake near Lea County, New Mexico (United States)

UTC time: 2026-08-16 20:49:52 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

A magnitude M1.6 earthquake was recorded near Lea County, New Mexico (United States) on August 16, 2026 at 20:49 UTC. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 8 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Earthquakes of this small magnitude are usually barely noticeable and cause no damage.

The data is provided by USGS and cross-checked across seismological networks. United States: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 168 earthquakes, the strongest at M3.7.

Details

Magnitude
M1.6
Depth
8.0 km
UTC time
2026-08-16 20:49:52 UTC
Local time
—
Country
United States
State
New Mexico
City
Lea County
County
Lea County
Source
usgs
Coordinates
32.05400, -103.71000
Temperature
34.4°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 8 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 8 km
Shallow
8 km
8 km — shallower than the regional average (15.4 km)
Regional average: 15.4 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Volcanoes nearby

  • Carrizozo
    Distance: 282 km ·Pyroclastic cone(s) ·Elevation: 1'731 m ·Last eruption: -3250 ·United States

Historic earthquake map · United States

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Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · United States

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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