Magnitude 5.2 Earthquake Strikes Mid-Indian Ridge Near Mauritius; No Immediate Reports of Damage

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck the Mid-Indian Ridge at a depth of 10km on March 6, 2026. No damage reported in Mauritius or Rodrigues.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 6, 2026, 7:18 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from VolcanoDiscovery

Seismic Activity Along the Indian Ocean Tectonic Boundary

A significant seismic event was recorded in the remote waters of the Indian Ocean today as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake rattled the Mid-Indian Ridge. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), the primary data source for the event, reported the quake at 11:52:49 UTC. Initial readings briefly placed the magnitude at 5.3 before being refined to 5.2 following a secondary recalculation of seismic data. The epicenter was located at coordinates 15.289°S / 67.045°E, a region known for frequent tectonic adjustments along the seafloor.

Depth and Shaking Intensity Estimates

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km (approximately 6.2 miles). In seismology, a recorded depth of exactly 10 km often indicates a "fixed" depth used by agencies when a precise measurement cannot be immediately determined, though the event is confirmed to be shallow. Seismic models estimated a "Moderate" shaking intensity (Level V on the Modified Mercalli Scale) in the immediate vicinity of the epicenter. However, because the rupture occurred deep beneath the ocean surface, the energy dispersed significantly before reaching any inhabited landmasses.

Impact on Mauritius and Surrounding Islands

The nearest populated area to the epicenter is Port Mathurin, the capital of the Rodrigues island dependency of Mauritius, situated 622 km (386 miles) to the southwest. Residents in Port Mathurin likely experienced only "very weak" shaking (Level II intensity), which is often imperceptible to people at rest or on the upper floors of buildings. As of 20 minutes post-event, there have been no official user reports of the quake being felt on the main island of Mauritius or Réunion.