M1.7 earthquake 17 km W of Samoa, California

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake struck 17 km W of Samoa, California on Tue, Jul 17, 1979, 7:53 AM PDT (14:53 UTC), 20 km (13 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M4.7 69 km W of Indianola, California. This one was a foreshock.

Map

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

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 98 in the 60 days after this one and 65 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 98.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1046633. Read Wed, Sep 30, 2026, 8:41 PM UTC.