Portland, OR – A magnitude 4.2 earthquake struck early Thursday morning off the Oregon coast, drawing renewed attention to the Axial Seamount, an undersea volcano geologists believe could erupt before the end of 2025.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake hit at 8:38 a.m. UTC (12:38 a.m. local time) about 297 kilometers (184 miles) west-northwest of Barview, Oregon, at a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) depth. There were no immediate reports of damage or tsunami warnings, but the timing and location have caught scientists’ attention.
The Axial Seamount, situated roughly 300 miles west of Cannon Beach, has shown signs of inflation since 2023 — a gradual lifting of the seafloor caused by magma movement beneath the crust. Oregon State University geologist William Chadwick reported in December 2024 that the volcano’s surface had risen to 95% of its pre-2015 eruption height, signaling mounting pressure.
Axial has erupted in 1998, 2011, and 2015, making it one of the most closely monitored submarine volcanoes in the world. Scientists say its predictable cycle and deep-sea observatory make it an ideal natural laboratory for studying how volcanoes prepare to erupt.
While Thursday’s tremor may not directly indicate an imminent eruption, experts are watching the region closely for clusters of small quakes or increased ground uplift — early indicators that the seamount could “rumble to life” before year’s end.
