Live seismic activity in Samoa — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Samoa is seismically active, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire near the Tonga Trench, with occasional large earthquakes and tsunamis.
Samoa is seismically active, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire near the Tonga Trench. The 2009 Samoa earthquake (M8.1) generated a devastating tsunami that killed over 180 people in Samoa, American Samoa, and Tonga. Major faults include the Tonga Trench subduction interface, the Samoan Islands fault system, and the Pago Pago fault. Notable quakes include 2009 Samoa (M8.1, tsunami), 2019 Samoa (M6.1), 1996 M6.7. The seismic risk is high. Tectonically, Samoa lies on the Pacific Plate, with the Australian Plate subducting to the west. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Samoa.
The region is defined by Tonga Trench, Samoan Islands fault system, and the risk level is classified as High. With a population of 200,000, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Samoa lies on Pacific Plate, influence from Tonga Trench subduction. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
Notable earthquakes in Samoa include 2009 Samoa (M8.1 tsunami), 2019 M6.1, 1996 M6.7.
Samoa experiences approximately 200-500 earthquakes per year, with 20-50 felt (M3.0+) and 2-5 potentially damaging events (M5.0+) annually, according to USGS historical data.
Recent seismic activity has been recorded in Samoa.
Yes. Samoa is crossed by Tonga Trench, Samoan Islands fault system, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.