About QuakeWatch

QuakeWatch is a free, real-time global earthquake monitoring platform. Our mission is simple: give everyone on the planet clear, instant access to seismic activity data — without paywalls, ads, or complexity.

Where does the data come from?

All earthquake data is sourced directly from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, which is part of the United States Geological Survey. The USGS operates a global network of seismographic stations and provides open, free access to their data through a public API. Our system queries this API every 60 seconds to ensure you're always seeing the latest events.

How does the "I Felt It" system work?

When an earthquake occurs, people in the affected area can submit a report directly on the event's detail page. You can rate how strongly you felt it (1–5), describe the experience, and optionally share your location. These community reports help build a picture of how an earthquake was felt at ground level — information that complements instrumental seismic data. No account is required to submit a report.

Is QuakeWatch affiliated with USGS or any government agency?

No. QuakeWatch is an independent project that uses publicly available USGS data. We are not affiliated with USGS, any government body, or any university or research institution. Always refer to official sources such as earthquake.usgs.gov and your national emergency management services for authoritative information.

Can I use the data for my own project?

The earthquake data we display originates from USGS and is in the public domain. You're welcome to use their FDSN API directly for your own applications at no cost. We also provide a simple read-only JSON endpoint at /api/earthquakes/ for casual use.