Uganda earthquakes

M6.6 earthquake 22 km N of Margherita, Uganda

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck 22 km N of Margherita, Uganda on Sun, Mar 20, 1966, 4:42 AM GMT+3 (01:42 UTC), 30 km (19 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
6.6 (mw), strong
Local time
UTC
1966-03-20 01:42:53 UTC
Depth
29.9 km (18.6 mi), shallow
Epicenter
0.743° N, 29.840° E
Region
Uganda
Strongest shaking
VIII, severe shaking
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated
VIII, severe shaking
Peak ground acceleration
57.0% of gravity
Peak ground velocity
4.0 cm/s
Map
Automatic
USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter
Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude uncertainty
±0.20
Depth from
From location

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 4 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

After

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem849400 (also filed as atlas19660320014251). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 8:26 PM UTC.