Earthquakes Today: latest quakes worldwide in the past 24 hours on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 - list, stats and map

Earthquake statistics

Number of recent quakes worldwide by magnitude

Number of earthquakes over time

Magnitude distribution and energy released

Past 24 hrs:

Past 7 days:

Past 30 days:

Earthquake FAQ

When was the latest earthquake anywhere in the world?

The last earthquake in the world occurred 6 minutes ago: Minor mag. 1.8 earthquake - 68 km north of Gisborne, New Zealand, on Wednesday, Nov 29, 2023 03:46 pm (Auckland time).

Where do most earthquakes occur in the world?

By far, most earthquakes in the world occur along the margins of the Pacific Ocean, followed by the vast Alpine-Himalayan mountain belts that stretch from southern Europe through Turkey, the Caucasus, Iran, Pakistan, to northern India, Nepal and southern China.
Most of these regions are in oceanic or continental collision zones where tectonic plates collide with each other and release energy in form of earthquakes.

How many quakes were there in the world in the past 24 hours?

In the past 24 hours, there were 7 quakes of magnitude 5.0 or above, 42 quakes between 4.0 and 5.0, 91 quakes between 3.0 and 4.0, and 189 quakes between 2.0 and 3.0. There were also 445 quakes below magnitude 2.0 which people don't normally feel.

What was the strongest quake in the world in the past 24 hours?

The strongest earthquake in the world in the past 24 hours occurred 19 hours ago: Strong mag. 5.8 earthquake - Fiji: Vanuatu Region on Tuesday, Nov 28, 2023 07:39 pm (GMT +12).

What category of earthquake is considered an emergency?

Most earthquakes are small and cause no damage, but occasionally, there are bigger ones that can cause considerable damage to people and infrastructure. How much damage a quake does depends a lot on a number of factors including:
- magnitude
- depth beneath the surface
- duration and motion of the shaking
- local geology
- population density
- overall building standards of the affected area
- risk awareness and preparedness
Quakes below magnitude 5 rarely cause damage, while quakes above around magnitude 7 almost always result in extensive damage, even in areas with very good building standards such as in the western US or Japan. Quakes from magnitudes 8 often result in wide-spread or even catastrophic destruction.

What kind of damage can an earthquake do?

The ground shaking of earthquakes can cause soil liquefaction, landslides and avalanches, the opening of fissures in the ground, deformation of the ground, cracks in walls and other structures leading to their collapse. As secondary and often even more severe damage, this can lead to fires, gas leaks, or even tsunamis if the sea floor is moved in a way to displace a large mass of water.

How dangerous are earthquakes?

Earthquakes are among the (if not THE) most dangerous type of natural disaster.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), quakes caused nearly 750,000 deaths globally in the period 1998-2017, more than half of all deaths related to natural disasters.

How many people are affected by earthquakes every year?

Each day, many thousands of people feel an earthquake somewhere. Stronger quakes can be felt by millions of people.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 750,000 people were killed by quakes and more than 125 million people injured, made homeless or displaced or otherwise seriously affected by earthquakes during the 20 years from 1998-2017.