A magnitude 3.6 earthquake occurred on Wednesday afternoon, October 28, 2026, at 4:27 pm local time near Carlsbad, Eddy County, New Mexico, USA, according to the United States Geological Survey.According to preliminary data, the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 9.7 miles. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones because they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review the data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their reports.A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which also listed it as a magnitude 3.6 earthquake.Towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Toyah (pop. 98), located 37 miles from the epicenter. In Loving (pop. 1,400, 43 miles away), Pecos (pop. 9,500, 48 miles away), Carlsbad (pop. 29,000, 52 miles away), and Van Horn (pop. 1,900, 56 miles away), the quake was probably not felt.Earthquake data: Date & time: Oct 28, 2026 04:27 pm (GMT -5) local time (28 Oct 2026 21:27 GMT)Magnitude: 3.6Hypocenter depth: 15.57 kmEpicenter coordinates: 31.67°N / 104.25°W (Culberson County, Texas, United States)Primary data source: USGS