An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 occurred in the evening on Saturday, February 28th, 2026, at 8:57 pm local time near Quito, Provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador, as reported by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a shallow depth of 11. km. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. Magnitude and other quake parameters can still change in the coming hours as the agency continues to process seismic data.Our monitoring service identified a second report from the Institute of Geophysics of the National Polytechnic School in Quito (IGEPN) which listed the quake at magnitude 3.7. A third agency, The Colombian Geological Service (SGC), reported the same quake at magnitude 3.5.Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter. Weak shaking might have been felt in Pomasqui (pop. 28,700) located 13 km from the epicenter.Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Otavalo (pop. 32,300) located 30 km from the epicenter, Oyambarillo (pop. 8,000) 32 km away, Quito (pop. 2,781,600) 33 km away, Cotacachi (pop. 8,200) 35 km away, Cayambe (pop. 26,600) 36 km away, Atuntaqui (pop. 17,500) 41 km away, and Sangolqui (pop. 5,100) 44 km away. In Machachi (pop. 25,700, 65 km away), and Santo Domingo de los Colorados (pop. 458,600, 86 km away), the quake was probably not felt.Earthquake data: Date & time: Feb 28, 2026 08:57 pm (GMT -5) local time (1 Mar 2026 01:57 GMT)Magnitude: 3.5Depth: 11.00 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude: 0.06°N / 78.47°W (Provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador)Primary data source: EMSC