Recent earthquakes in Indonesia
Indonesia straddles the Sunda megathrust, where the Australian and Indian plates dive beneath the Sunda Plate along the Sumatra-Java trench. This subduction zone, plus a dense array of volcanoes and crustal faults, makes the archipelago one of the most seismically active regions on Earth. The 2004 M9.1 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake ruptured over 1,300 km of this boundary and triggered a catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami. In the past 24 hours, Indonesia has recorded 2 earthquakes, the largest an M6.6 (115 km NNE of Teluknaga, Indonesia).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | Sep 12, 03:34 UTC | 10 km | 45 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia |
| M6.6 | Sep 11, 21:23 UTC | 359 km | 115 km NNE of Teluknaga, Indonesia |
| M4.3 | Sep 11, 07:24 UTC | 160 km | 102 km SSE of Gorontalo, Indonesia |
| M4.4 | Sep 11, 00:53 UTC | 10 km | 79 km NE of Palu, Indonesia |
| M4.5 | Sep 9, 00:23 UTC | 40 km | 108 km SSW of Pagar Alam, Indonesia |
| M4.6 | Sep 8, 21:42 UTC | 17 km | 54 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia |
| M5.2 | Sep 8, 15:36 UTC | 10 km | 125 km NE of Ruteng, Indonesia |
| M5.3 | Sep 8, 04:40 UTC | 10 km | 51 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia |
| M4.4 | Sep 7, 02:48 UTC | 10 km | 124 km S of Dampit, Indonesia |
| M4.6 | Sep 6, 06:41 UTC | 10 km | 91 km NE of Luwuk, Indonesia |
| M4.4 | Sep 6, 06:06 UTC | 30 km | 60 km NE of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia |
| M5.2 | Sep 5, 14:06 UTC | 92 km | 77 km SSW of Sibolga, Indonesia |
| M5.0 | Sep 5, 10:59 UTC | 69 km | 70 km SW of Pagar Alam, Indonesia |
Notable recent activity
A strong M6.6 earthquake struck 115 km NNE of Teluknaga, Indonesia at 21:23 UTC on Sep 11 at a depth of 359 km.
A moderate M5.3 earthquake struck 51 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia at 04:40 UTC on Sep 8 at a depth of 10 km.
A moderate M5.2 earthquake struck 77 km SSW of Sibolga, Indonesia at 14:06 UTC on Sep 5 at a depth of 92 km.
Frequently asked questions
How many earthquakes does Indonesia get?
Indonesia experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, several of them magnitude 6 or larger, because it sits along the convergent boundary of several major plates. Most occur offshore along the Sunda subduction zone.
Why is Indonesia so earthquake-prone?
The country lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Australian and Indian plates subduct beneath the Sunda Plate. This drives the Sumatra-Java megathrust, numerous active volcanoes, and inland strike-slip faults such as the Great Sumatran Fault.
What was the biggest earthquake in Indonesia?
The December 26, 2004 magnitude 9.1 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake is the largest recorded in Indonesia and the third-largest ever measured. Its tsunami killed more than 220,000 people across the Indian Ocean.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.