Rare 3.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Deep Beneath the Gulf

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A rare magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck on March 29, 2026, at about 9:22 p.m., centered roughly 220 miles south-southeast of Venice, Louisiana. Despite its size, authorities saw no immediate damage, and no tsunami warnings followed.

Why it matters

Earthquakes aren't common in this part of the world, but the Gulf region has logged over a dozen instrumentally recorded quakes in the last half-century, with the largest being a 5.9 magnitude shock from September 2006, reminding that the Gulf's quiet can sometimes be deceiving.

The details

The quake originated about 10 kilometers deep, buried beneath the Gulf's waters. Seismologists call this an intraplate earthquake, which occurs deep within the plate itself, as old, stored-up stresses finally let go. Most people along the coast felt nothing, but the USGS's 'Did You Feel It?' map recorded at least one report, coming all the way from Lake Butler, Florida, over 440 miles from where the quake hit.

• The earthquake struck on March 29, 2026, at about 9:22 p.m.
• This earthquake comes close on the heels of increased seismic activity in the region, with a 4.9 magnitude quake hitting near Coushatta, Louisiana, earlier in March.