Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-09-27
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck Chile on September 25, with a second M5.3 event the same day near Vanuatu. Global volcanic activity remains elevated across well-monitored stratovolcanoes including Etna, Fuego, and Semeru. Kīlauea's summit system remains active and highly pressurized, according to the latest USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory notices.
Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-09-27
Seismic Activity
Two magnitude 5.3 earthquakes were recorded on September 25, 2026. The first occurred near Chile at 15:29 UTC at a depth of 19 km. A second M5.3 event struck the Vanuatu region at 11:12 UTC, at a depth of 24 km.
For complete real-time event listings, readers can consult the USGS Latest Earthquakes map, which includes most worldwide events of magnitude 4.5 and above — note that specific event details should be verified directly on the source page.
Volcanic Watch
Worldwide volcanic activity updated on September 25, 2026 highlighted continuing activity at Etna (Italy), Santiaguito (Guatemala), Fuego (Guatemala), Semeru (Indonesia), Sheveluch (Russia), and Ibu (Indonesia).

At Kīlauea in Hawai‘i, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory notices issued September 25 and 26, 2026 state that the summit system remains active and highly pressurized. The two most likely scenarios, per HVO, are that activity continues at the north-south-west vent complex, or that another existing weak crack system in the summit region activates; neither is likely to produce a strong event.
Earth Science
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, based on the Big Island, remotely monitors American Samoa year-round, with annual on-site visits considered essential for maintaining partnerships and the territory's volcano and earthquake monitoring network.

No recent research findings published after 2026-09-25 are available for this section.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.