M4.8 Earthquake Strikes southeast of the Loyalty Islands

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck Australia at 19:48 UTC on Monday, July 13, 2026, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake's epicentre was located southeast of the Loyalty Islands, at a focal depth of 10.0 km.

Event Details

At a focal depth of 10.0 km, this is classified as a shallow earthquake (0–70 km). Shallow events are typically the most damaging: the seismic energy has less distance to travel before reaching the surface, resulting in stronger and more abrupt ground shaking at the epicentre.

The earthquake registered a magnitude of 4.8 on the moment magnitude scale — the standard measurement used by seismologists worldwide. At this magnitude, the shaking is felt strongly by everyone; minor to moderate damage possible in vulnerable buildings.

Where Did This Earthquake Occur?

Australia sits in the interior of the Indo-Australian Plate, far from active plate boundaries. While considered a stable continent, it experiences moderate intraplate seismicity — and because its population is concentrated along the coast, even moderate earthquakes can affect large numbers of people.

Australia's largest recorded earthquake was the 1988 Tennant Creek sequence (M6.7–6.8) in the Northern Territory. More recently, the 2016 Petermann Ranges earthquake (M6.1) produced a dramatic surface rupture. Historical underestimation of Australian seismic hazard has been revised upward as geological research uncovers evidence of prehistoric large earthquakes.

What Does Magnitude 4.8 Mean?

Moderate earthquakes are felt by virtually everyone near the epicentre. Strong shaking lasting 10–30 seconds can topple unsecured items, crack plaster, and cause poorly anchored objects to fall. Aftershocks are common following moderate events.

Significant damage can occur to vulnerable structures — particularly unreinforced masonry, old adobe buildings, and poorly maintained older construction. Well-engineered modern buildings are designed to withstand this level of shaking with minimal structural impact, though contents may shift and non-structural elements (ceilings, partitions) can be damaged.

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake releases approximately approximately 30,000 tonnes of TNT — comparable to the Hiroshima atomic bomb of energy. For comparison, this exceeds the energy released by most conventional explosive events and is sufficient to shift tectonic stress in measurable ways across a wide region.

Safety Guidance

If you are on or near a coast and experience strong or prolonged earthquake shaking, treat it as a potential tsunami warning and move immediately to high ground. Do not wait for an official alert — natural warning signs (severe shaking, unusual sea withdrawal) are your first alert.

Keep an earthquake emergency kit accessible at home. It should include at least 72 hours of water (4 litres per person per day), non-perishable food, a first aid kit, torch, battery-powered radio, copies of important documents, and essential medications. Reviewing and restocking this kit annually is strongly recommended.

Geoscience Australia monitors seismic activity nationwide. Given Australia's relatively low frequency of damaging earthquakes, public earthquake preparedness awareness is an ongoing priority.

Monitoring and Aftershocks

Seismologists are continuing to monitor the region for aftershocks, which are common following earthquakes of this magnitude. Aftershocks can occur minutes, hours, or even days after the main event and are sometimes strong enough to cause additional damage to already-weakened structures. Residents in the area are advised to remain cautious and follow guidance from local authorities.

Real-time seismic data is being collected by the USGS and contributing regional networks. Updated information will be published as it becomes available. You can track this and all other global seismic activity in real time on our live earthquake map.

Community Felt Reports

If you felt this earthquake, your experience contributes to an important scientific dataset. The USGS "Did You Feel It?" (DYFI) system and QuakeWatch's own community reports platform collect first-hand accounts of shaking intensity from people across the affected region. These reports — describing where people were, what they felt, and what moved or was damaged — help seismologists map shaking intensity across an area much larger than any single seismograph can cover. Visit the earthquake's detail page on our live map to submit your own report.