M5.3 Earthquake Strikes Near Höfn, Iceland

Höfn, Iceland —

What happened:

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake rattled the waters off southeastern Iceland this morning, striking about 116 kilometers west-northwest of the coastal town of Höfn. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake hit at 9:44 a.m. Central time (2:44 p.m. local time in Iceland) at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers — shallow enough for the shaking to be felt on land. Scientists have reviewed the reading, so the numbers are confirmed.

Local impacts:

The quake struck offshore in the North Atlantic, away from the largest population centers. No felt reports have come in yet, and the USGS is not showing any tsunami threat from this event. Shaking from a quake of this size at this depth can rattle windows and loose items in nearby coastal towns, and people on the southeastern coast may have felt a sharp jolt.

What to do:

- If you felt the shaking, drop, cover and hold on during any aftershock.

- Check your home or workplace for cracked walls, broken gas lines or fallen objects.

- Expect possible aftershocks in the hours ahead and stay away from damaged structures.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 19, 2026.