What the record shows for Galapagos Islands
The strongest earthquake on record near Galapagos Islands is a magnitude 6.8 in 1909, centred 287 km N of Puerto Villamil, Ecuador - 117 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 105 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Galapagos Islands - roughly 5 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Galapagos Islands in the NOAA NCEI database. A quiet record is not the same as no exposure - a large enough offshore earthquake can reach coastlines that have never been hit in the historical period.
13 volcanoes are catalogued near Galapagos Islands, including Negra, Sierra, Azul, Cerro, Alcedo, Fernandina, Darwin, Santiago and 7 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Galapagos sit on a volcanic hotspot beside the Galapagos Triple Junction, with active volcanoes and frequent offshore quakes.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Galapagos Islands.
Earthquake risk in Galapagos Islands - FAQ
Is Galapagos Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 5 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.8 in 1909.
What was the biggest earthquake in Galapagos Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near Galapagos Islands is M6.8, in 1909 (287 km N of Puerto Villamil, Ecuador), from USGS.
Does Galapagos Islands get tsunamis?
No tsunamis are recorded within 389 km of Galapagos Islands in the NOAA database - though coastlines everywhere carry some residual risk after a very large offshore quake.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Galapagos Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.