Strong magnitude 5.2 earthquake at unknown depth15 Sep 09:59 UTC: First to report: EMSC after 4 minutes.15 Sep 09:59: Magnitude recalculated from 5.5 to 5.4. Epicenter location corrected by 18 km (11 mi) towards SW.... [show all] ...15 Sep 09:59: Epicenter location corrected by 19 km (12 mi) towards SSW.15 Sep 10:00: Magnitude recalculated from 5.4 to 5.3.15 Sep 10:00: Epicenter location corrected by 11 km (6.9 mi) towards NE.15 Sep 10:00: Magnitude recalculated from 5.3 to 5.2.15 Sep 10:01: Epicenter location corrected by 20 km (12 mi) towards S.15 Sep 10:01: Epicenter location corrected by 2.7 km (1.7 mi) towards S.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeSep 15, 2025 09:55:13 UTC - Local time at epicenterMonday, Sep 15, 2025, at 10:55 am (GMT +1)StatusconfirmedMagnitude5.2Depth10 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude34.3683°N / 16.4759°EMaltaSeismic antipode34.3683°S / 163.524°WShaking intensityV Moderate shaking near epicenterFelt11 reportsPrimary data sourceEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeClear Sky 26.4°C (79 F), humidity: 70%, wind: 4 m/s (7 kts) from NWEstimated seismic energy released4 x 1012 joules (1.11 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 951 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 5.2 | about seismic energy12 minutes ago reported feltSep 15, 2025 09:55 GMT / Sep 15, 2025 10:55 am (GMT +1)Lat / Lng: 34.3683 / 16.4759: Central Mediterranean SeaSource: EMSCOther sources: GFZ: 4.8 / 10 km, NOA: 5.4 / 10 km, 1 more...Detail info | Read user reports | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-22168609',34.36830,16.47590,'12 minutes ago: Mag. 5.2, Central Mediterranean Sea',html,'quakes-7-24.png',30,30,15,15,126]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in MaltaNearby placesThe closest larger town where the quake might have been felt is Birzebbuga, a town with 13,000 inhabitants in Malta, in 240 km (149 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter. People likely experienced weak shaking there. In the capital of Malta, Valletta, 247 km (153 mi) away from the epicenter, the earthquake was probably felt as weak shaking.The following table shows some of the places that might have been affected (or not) by the shaking.DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry240 km (149 mi)NW of epicenterBirzebbuga(pop: 12,900)III: WeakBirzebbugaMalta240 km (149 mi)NW of epicenterMarsaskala(pop: 10,000)III: WeakMarsaskalaMalta242 km (150 mi)NW of epicenterZejtun(pop: 11,500)III: WeakIz-ZejtunMalta244 km (151 mi)NW of epicenterZabbar(pop: 15,600)III: WeakHaz-ZabbarMalta244 km (152 mi)NW of epicenterZurrieq(pop: 11,000)III: WeakIz-ZurrieqMalta245 km (152 mi)NW of epicenterFgura(pop: 12,900)III: WeakIl-FguraMalta246 km (153 mi)NW of epicenterSenglea(pop: 2,720)III: WeakSengleaMalta246 km (153 mi)NW of epicenterPaola(pop: 8,710)III: WeakPaolaMalta246 km (153 mi)NW of epicenterVittoriosa(pop: 2,490)III: WeakIl-BirguMalta246 km (153 mi)NW of epicenterMqabba(pop: 3,340)III: WeakL-ImqabbaMalta247 km (153 mi)NW of epicenterValletta(pop: 6,790)III: WeakVallettaMalta248 km (154 mi)NW of epicenterPietà(pop: 4,890)III: WeakTal-PietàMalta248 km (154 mi)NW of epicenterQormi(pop: 16,800)III: WeakQormiMalta248 km (154 mi)NW of epicenterTa' Xbiex(pop: 2,010)III: WeakTarxienMalta248 km (154 mi)NW of epicenterMsida(pop: 13,700)III: WeakL-ImsidaMalta248 km (154 mi)NW of epicenterSliema(pop: 22,600)III: WeakTas-SliemaMalta249 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterGzira(pop: 11,700)III: WeakIl-GziraMalta249 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterHaz-Zebbug(pop: 11,100)III: WeakHaz-ZebbugMalta250 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterSan Giljan(pop: 13,800)III: WeakSan GiljanMalta250 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterSan Gwann(pop: 14,700)III: WeakSaint JohnMalta250 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterBirkirkara(pop: 24,400)III: WeakBirkirkaraMalta251 km (156 mi)NW of epicenterAttard(pop: 11,400)III: WeakAttardMalta251 km (156 mi)NW of epicenterSwieqi(pop: 14,500)III: WeakIs-SwieqiMalta252 km (157 mi)NW of epicenterNaxxar(pop: 14,900)III: WeakIn-NaxxarMalta253 km (157 mi)NW of epicenterRabat(pop: 11,900)III: WeakIr-RabatMalta253 km (157 mi)NW of epicenterImdina(pop: 193)III: WeakL-ImdinaMalta253 km (157 mi)NW of epicenterMosta(pop: 23,500)III: WeakIl-MostaMalta254 km (158 mi)NW of epicenterImtarfa(pop: 2,620)III: WeakMtarfaMalta256 km (159 mi)SW of epicenterMisratah(pop: 355,700)III: WeakSha'biyat MisratahLibya257 km (160 mi)NW of epicenterSan Pawl il-Bahar(pop: 32,000)III: WeakSaint Paul's BayMalta261 km (162 mi)NW of epicenterMellieha(pop: 11,400)III: WeakIl-MelliehaMalta271 km (169 mi)NW of epicenterGhajnsielem(pop: 2,930)II: Very weakGħajnsielemMalta274 km (170 mi)NW of epicenterXewkija(pop: 3,300)II: Very weakIx-XewkijaMalta276 km (171 mi)SW of epicenterZliten(pop: 203,800)II: Very weakSha'biyat MisratahLibya281 km (174 mi)SW of epicenterAl Khums(pop: 201,900)II: Very weakAl MarqabLibya290 km (180 mi)NW of epicenterPachino(pop: 20,500)II: Very weakSyracuse, SicilyItaly297 km (184 mi)SW of epicenterAl-'Aluas(pop: 17,100)II: Very weakAl MarqabLibya301 km (187 mi)SW of epicenterMsalatah(pop: 73,900)II: Very weakAl MarqabLibya326 km (202 mi)NW of epicenterRagusa(pop: 74,300)II: Very weakSicilyItaly333 km (207 mi)SW of epicenterTajura'(pop: 100,000)II: Very weakTripoliLibyaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quake (11)So far, we have received 11 reports for this quake from Malta. The quake was reported to have been felt in up to approx. 250 km (155 mi) distance, with isolated cases to have felt the quake even 272 km (169 mi) away.The majority of reports came from San Pawl il-Bahar (4 reports), a town with 32,000 inhabitants in Saint Paul's Bay in 257 km (160 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, Malta, Safi (2 reports), a town with 2,300 inhabitants in 244 km (151 mi) distance northwest of the epicenter, and Naxxar (1 report) (252 km or 157 mi to the northwest). See the list of places where most people reported this quake further below.This section is being updated as new data comes in.User reports estimate the perceived ground shaking intensity according to the MMI (Modified Mercalli Intensity) scale.Contribute:Leave a comment if you find a particular report interesting or want to add to it.Flag as inappropriate.Mark as helpful or interesting.Send your own user report!TranslateQala, Gozo (270.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : I could feel the shake through the sofa and a drinks trolley in the same room rattled and the liquid moved in the bottles Mriehel (243.7 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / rattling, vibrating / 2-5 sBirkirkara (250.5 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / rattling, vibrating / 1-2 s : I was sitting in chair I felt like shaking of things around me one of them lying in bed also felt Gzira (257 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 sMalta (253.1 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) : Having Lunch. Chair Was slightly moving 258.2 km NW of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)Nadur, Gozo (272.1 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II) / both vertical and horizontal swinging / 5-10 s : Chair moving whilst siting on it. Quite week sliema (248.1 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) / horizontal (sideways) swinging / 5-10 s250.1 km NW of epicenter [Map] / Weak shaking (MMI III) (reported through our app)Birkikara (248.4 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : light shaking, felt like someone was pushing on my chair (reported through our app) San giljan malta (250.2 km NW of epicenter) [Map] / Light shaking (MMI IV) : I was sitting down on a chair and I felt like I was floating back and forth. List of cities/places with most reportsPlaceDistance from epicenterAverage reported Shaking IntensityNr. of reportsSan Pawl il-Bahar, Saint Paul's Bay, Malta(Pop.: 32,042)257 km (160 mi)NW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking4Safi, Safi, Malta(Pop.: 2,280)244 km (151 mi)NW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking2Naxxar, In-Naxxar, Malta(Pop.: 14,890)252 km (157 mi)NW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking1Mellieha, Il-Mellieha, Malta(Pop.: 11,389)261 km (162 mi)NW of epicenterII: Very weak shaking1San Gwann, Saint John, Malta(Pop.: 14,720)250 km (155 mi)NW of epicenterIII: Weak shaking1Note: Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (11 in total) could be used for statistics.What is Intensity and the Mercalli Intensity Scale?The amount of shaking that occurs on the surface due to an earthquake is called the intensity. It is commonly measured on the so-called Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) ranging from 1 (not felt) to 10 (extreme shaking), and given in Roman numerals as I,II,...IX, X, and often displayed with color codes ranging from light blue to dark red.Earthquake intensity depends mainly on the magnitude and depth of the quake as well as the distance from the epicenter: The further away, the less shaking intensity occurs.Read more about the MMI scale!Number of reports by intensityShaking intensityNumber of reportsMin-Max distance from epicenter (*)Average distance (*)II: Very weak shaking4243–272 km (151–169 mi)260 km (161 mi)III: Weak shaking4250–258 km (155–160 mi)254 km (158 mi)IV: Light shaking3248–250 km (154–155 mi)249 km (154 mi)Notes(*) Reports are filtered to exclude those that are likely highly inaccurate or esaggerated.Only reports with latitude/longitude coordinate positions given (11 in total) could be used for geographic statistics.I didn't feel itI felt this quakeIf you were near the epicenter and felt it, please share your experience and submit a short "I felt it" report! Other users would love to hear about it!If you did NOT feel the quake although you were in the area, please report it as well! Your contribution is valuable to earthquake science and seismic hazard analysis.Compare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2025-09-15EpicenterAgency5.210 km6.2 mi(*)09:55:13.4CENTRAL MEDITERRANEAN SEAEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)4.810 km6.2 mi(*)09:55:18.18Central Mediterranean Sea53 km (33 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCGFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)5.410 km6.2 mi(*)09:55:10.82543 Km WSW from Strofades38 km (24 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCNOA (National Observatory of Athens)4.810 km6.2 mi(*)09:55:18Central Mediterranean Sea53 km (33 mi) epicenter difference with EMSCRaspberryShake (RaspberryShake)Notes:(*) A depth given as 10 km often means that the the depth of the quake could be not determined with sufficient accuracy.Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 16 km2 (6 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 7 km (4 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)Sep 15, 2025 10:55 am (GMT +1)12 minutes ago - felt5.210 km0 km - This quakeEastern Mediterranean, 257 km SE of San Pawl il-Bahar, Saint Paul's Bay, MaltaMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeStrongest in 126 yearsThe earthquake was the strongest to hit this part of Malta since at least the beginning of the previous century (our records start in 1900). No other quake of equal or greater strength had occurred near the present epicenter since then. Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapSep 11, 04:16 am (GMT +1)4.510 km4.4 km (2.7 mi) to the W 237 km SE of Birżebbuġa, Malta I FELT ITInfoAug 30, 08:50 am (GMT +1)4.710 km27 km (17 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 233 km southeast of San Pawl il-Bahar, MaltaInfoJan 1, 02:00 am (GMT +1)4.010 km31 km (19 mi) to the N 228 km SE of Marsaskala, MaltaInfoJul 10, 2019 08:44 am (GMT +1)4.510 km115 km (72 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 201 km east of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoJul 10, 2019 08:44 am (GMT +1)4.310 km91 km (56 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 171 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, Malta 2 reportsInfoDec 23, 2018 06:09 am (Universal Time)2.99.9 km117 km (73 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 130 km southeast of Valletta, Valletta, MaltaInfoJan 11, 2017 11:09 am (Universal Time)3.39.5 km111 km (69 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 155 km southeast of Valletta, Valletta, MaltaInfoOct 30, 2016 10:27 am (GMT +1)4.510 km127 km (79 mi) to the N Central Mediterranean Sea 2 reportsInfoDec 15, 2015 02:10 pm (GMT +1)3.022 km107 km (67 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 146 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoDec 13, 2015 08:47 pm (GMT +1)2.710 km94 km (59 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 158 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoApr 29, 2015 04:28 am (Universal Time)3.810 km125 km (78 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 169 km east of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoNov 21, 2013 09:05 pm (Universal Time)2.830 km107 km (66 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 184 km east of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoJan 8, 2013 01:27 am (Universal Time)3.210 km84 km (52 mi) to the NW Malta [Sea]InfoDec 2, 2011 01:21 pm (GMT +1)3.010 km109 km (68 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 149 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoNov 27, 2011 01:43 am (GMT +1)3.010 km102 km (63 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 154 km southeast of Zabbar, Haz-Zabbar, MaltaInfoNov 26, 2011 06:10 pm (GMT +1)4.610 km95 km (59 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 173 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoAug 12, 2011 11:15 am (Universal Time)3.110 km92 km (57 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 157 km southeast of Sliema, Tas-Sliema, MaltaInfoJul 25, 2011 08:10 am (GMT +1)3.410 km119 km (74 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 152 km southeast of San Pawl il-Bahar, MaltaInfoJul 26, 2010 01:48 am (Universal Time)3.60 km98 km (61 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 200 km east of San Pawl il-Bahar, Saint Paul's Bay, MaltaInfoJun 22, 2010 11:46 pm (Universal Time)3.110 km109 km (67 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 143 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoOct 15, 2007 06:36 pm (GMT +1)3.510 km122 km (76 mi) to the NW Malta [Sea]InfoFeb 11, 2007 05:11 pm (Universal Time)4.210 km122 km (76 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 144 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoDec 13, 2006 01:28 pm (Universal Time)3.510 km102 km (63 mi) to the WEastern Mediterranean, 164 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoOct 27, 2006 08:27 pm (Universal Time)3.210 km115 km (71 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 136 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoApr 16, 2006 05:17 am (Universal Time)2.710 km111 km (69 mi) to the NW Malta [Sea]InfoSep 14, 2003 02:22 am (Universal Time)3.310 km88 km (55 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 165 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoMay 4, 1999 02:25 am (Universal Time)3.110 km91 km (57 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 161 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoAug 5, 1996 02:11 am (GMT +1)3.110 km64 km (40 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 189 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoNov 8, 1977 09:44 pm (Universal Time)4.433 km90 km (56 mi) to the NWEastern Mediterranean, 164 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoMay 24, 1974 01:29 am (Universal Time)4.210 km40 km (25 mi) to the NEastern Mediterranean, 216 km southeast of Birkirkara, Birkirkara, MaltaInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]