M1.9 earthquake 16 km NW of Samoa, California

A magnitude 1.9 earthquake struck 16 km NW of Samoa, California on Sun, Jul 12, 1981, 8:22 PM PDT (03:22 UTC), 0 km (0 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M2.4 13 km NW of Manila, 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: 121 in the 60 days after this one and 78 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 121.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1065499. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 12:08 PM UTC.