Are Earthquakes Surging? The Shocking Truth Revealed
Is the Earth Shaking More? A Simple Guide to Understanding Earthquakes in 2026
TL;DR: Recent big earthquakes in Indonesia, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, and the Philippines have people wondering if earthquakes are increasing. Short answer: No. The numbers for 2026 are slightly ahead of the 10-year average but still within the normal range. What makes quakes deadly isn’t just their size—it’s where they hit.
Recent Big Earthquakes: What Happened?
In the past few months, several powerful earthquakes struck around the world:
- Philippines (June): Magnitude 7.8 off Mindanao — over 100 deaths
- Venezuela (June): Two quakes, 7.2 and 7.5, seconds apart — over 6,300 deaths
- Mexico (July): Magnitude 7.4+
- Colombia (August): Magnitude 7.4+
- Indonesia (August): Magnitude 7.4+
These events sparked the big question: Is the Earth shaking more than usual?
The 10 Largest Earthquakes of 2026 (So Far)
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), here are the top 10 quakes this year:
| Rank | Location | Magnitude | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philippines (off Mindanao) | 7.8 | June |
| 2 | Venezuela | 7.5 | June |
| 3 | Venezuela | 7.2 | June |
| 4 | Mexico | 7.4+ | July |
| 5 | Colombia | 7.4+ | August |
| 6 | Indonesia | 7.4+ | August |
| 7–10 | Other locations | 7.0–7.3 | Various |
Important: The USGS records about 20,000 earthquakes per year (roughly 55 per day). Most are too small to feel. Damage usually starts at magnitude 6 and above.
Ten Years of Data: Where Does 2026 Stand?
Let’s look at the big picture. From 2016 to 2025:
- Average per year: 133 quakes of magnitude 6+
- Lowest year: 99 (in 2024)
- Highest year: 157 (in 2021)
As of mid-August 2026:
- 91 quakes of magnitude 6+
- 11 quakes of magnitude 7+
Both numbers are slightly ahead of the 10-year pace — but still within the normal range.
No quake has reached magnitude 8 or 9 (the most destructive categories).
What Really Makes an Earthquake Deadly?
KEY POINT:
Magnitude ≠ Deadliness
The deadliest quakes of the past decade were not the largest — they were the ones that struck under cities.
What matters more than the number on the scale:
- Proximity to population centers
- Depth (shallow quakes = more shaking at surface)
- Building quality (strong codes save lives)
- Secondary disasters (tsunamis, landslides)
Is There an "Earthquake Season"?
No.
- Earthquakes happen all year round — no seasonal pattern.
- Tectonic stress builds over decades or centuries, not months.
- Scientists cannot predict exactly when a big quake will strike.
What they can do:
- Calculate probabilities over years (helps set building codes)
- Run early warning systems (alert people after a quake starts)
- Study aftershocks (can last months or years)
How Do Earthquakes Happen? (ELI5 Version)
Imagine the Earth’s crust is like a giant jigsaw puzzle made of tectonic plates — each about 100 km (62 miles) thick.
- Plates float on hot, slow-moving mantle rock beneath them.
- They’re always moving — but their edges get stuck.
- Stress builds up… and up… and up…
- SNAP! The rock breaks along a fault (a crack in the crust).
- Energy releases as seismic waves → the ground shakes.
Faults can run for hundreds of kilometers. Some are known; others are discovered only when they rupture.
Where Do Earthquakes Happen?
The Pacific Ring of Fire
- ~90% of all earthquakes happen here.
- A horseshoe-shaped belt around the Pacific Ocean:
- West coast of the Americas
- Alaska → Russia → Japan → Philippines → Indonesia → New Zealand
- Hotspots: Japan, Philippines, Indonesia
The Alpide Belt
- ~17% of largest quakes
- Stretches: Java → Himalayas → Türkiye → Mediterranean
Elsewhere
- Rare quakes on ancient faults far from plate boundaries (e.g., central US, Australia)
How Are Earthquakes Measured?
We use the Moment Magnitude Scale (not the old Richter scale). It measures energy released at the source.
It’s Logarithmic — Each Whole Number = BIG Jump
| Magnitude | Ground Shaking (vs. M4) | Energy Released (vs. M4) | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0–4.9 | 1x (baseline) | 1x | Light, maybe minor damage |
| 5.0 | 10x | 32x | Moderate damage |
| 6.0 | 100x | ~1,000x | Strong, damaging |
| 7.0 | 1,000x | ~32,000x | Major — major damage, loss of life |
| 8.0+ | 10,000x+ | ~1,000,000x+ | Great — near-total destruction over wide area |
Remember: A M7 isn’t just "a bit bigger" than M6 — it’s 10x the shaking and 32x the energy!
The Largest Earthquakes Ever Recorded
| Rank | Magnitude | Location | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.5 | Valdivia, Chile | 1960 | Biggest ever; caused Pacific-wide tsunami |
| 2 | 9.2 | Prince William Sound, Alaska | 1964 | Second largest |
| 3 | 9.1–9.3 | Off Sumatra, Indonesia | 2004 | Triggered Indian Ocean tsunami — ~228,000 deaths |
Tsunamis are often deadlier than the shaking itself.
Summary: What You Need to Know
- 2026 is not abnormal — quake counts are slightly high but within normal range.
- No "earthquake season" — they happen anytime.
- Magnitude ≠ destruction — location, depth, and buildings matter more.
- Ring of Fire = most active zone (90% of quakes).
- We can’t predict quakes — but we can prepare with codes and warnings.
- Logarithmic scale = huge jumps — M7 is massively stronger than M6.
FAQ: Your Earthquake Questions Answered
1. Are earthquakes increasing because of climate change?
No. Earthquakes are driven by tectonic forces deep underground, not weather or climate. There’s no scientific link.
2. Can animals predict earthquakes?
Some animals may sense early vibrations (P-waves) seconds before humans feel shaking — but they don’t predict quakes days in advance. It’s not reliable.
3. What should I do during an earthquake?
- Drop, Cover, Hold On — under a sturdy table.
- Stay indoors. Don’t run outside (falling debris is dangerous).
- If driving: pull over, stop, stay in car.
4. Why do some small quakes cause big damage?
Shallow depth + poor buildings + soft soil (amplifies shaking) = disaster. A M5.5 under a city can be deadlier than M7.5 in the ocean.
5. Can we stop earthquakes?
No. They’re natural geological processes. But we can reduce harm:
- Enforce strict building codes
- Build early warning systems
- Educate communities on preparedness
Final Thought: The Earth is always moving. We can’t stop the shake — but we can build smarter, prepare better, and save lives.