Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-09-18
Recent seismic activity includes a magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the United States and a pair of magnitude 4.0+ quakes near an Icelandic glacier. In volcanic news, Kīlauea's lava fountaining episodes are showing unstable tilt data, while researchers link North Korea's nuclear tests to fault lines near a border volcano.
Earthquake & Volcano Monitor — 2026-09-18
Seismic Activity
On September 16, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck near the United States at a depth of 103 km, occurring at 18:06 UTC.
In Iceland, two earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 4.0 occurred just 11 seconds apart on Tuesday afternoon local time. The quakes were located in western Iceland, near a glacier and volcano, according to the Icelandic Met Office.
Mexico's National Seismological Service reported minor seismic activity on September 16, noting several earthquakes with magnitudes below 4.0.
Volcanic Watch
The ongoing episodic eruption of Kīlauea volcano on Hawaii's Big Island has shown changes in behavior following the opening of new vents in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater between September 14 and 16. The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports that the re-inflation of the summit became more unsteady during this period, complicating the forecasting of lava fountaining episodes using tilt data.
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory also noted the challenges in forecasting these episodes, highlighting the "ups and downs" associated with interpreting tilt data during the ongoing activity that began in January 2025.
Earth Science
Researchers have found evidence that North Korea's underground nuclear tests have awakened fault lines pointing toward Paektu Mountain, a large volcano on the China-North Korea border. The study indicates persistent earthquake activity that has steadily intensified along two distinct paths as a result of the tests.
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.
Powered by
