Earthquakes
What to do before, during and after the shaking.
Happening now
Rift is tracking 19 active events of this kind in the last 24 hours, including:
- M 5.9 - central Mid-Atlantic Ridge (central Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
- M 5.1 - 91 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga (91 km ENE of Hihifo, Tonga)
- M 4.9 - SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE (SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE)
- Earthquake in Japan (Japan)
- Earthquake in Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
Official guidance
FEMA, Ready.gov: Earthquakes (www.ready.gov)
- Drop, Cover and Hold On
- Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, televisions and objects that hang on walls.
- If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
- If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
Quoted from FEMA, Ready.gov, "Earthquakes", a US federal government work in the public domain. Checked word for word against the live page on 7 November 2026. Read the full guidance there.
These are the agencies' words, not Rift's. Guidance differs between countries; where yours differs, follow your own national agency. In an emergency, follow official instructions and call your local emergency number.