Recent earthquakes near Jakarta
Jakarta sits on the thick, soft sediments of northern Java, some distance from the Sunda megathrust off the island's south coast and from active faults in the surrounding highlands. It does not sit directly on a plate boundary, but its soft basin can strongly amplify shaking from distant large earthquakes. Nearby crustal faults and the offshore subduction zone both contribute to its hazard. In the past 24 hours, Jakarta has recorded 1 earthquake, the largest an M4.9 (10 km SE of Kawalu, Indonesia).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.9 | Jul 28, 09:21 UTC | 159 km | 10 km SE of Kawalu, Indonesia |
| M4.9 | Jul 24, 17:28 UTC | 59 km | 133 km SW of Kotabumi, Indonesia |
Notable recent activity
An M4.9 earthquake struck 10 km SE of Kawalu, Indonesia at 09:21 UTC on Jul 28 at a depth of 159 km.
An M4.9 earthquake struck 133 km SW of Kotabumi, Indonesia at 17:28 UTC on Jul 24 at a depth of 59 km.
Frequently asked questions
Does Jakarta get earthquakes?
Jakarta feels earthquakes regularly, mostly as shaking transmitted from the Sunda subduction zone off southern Java or from faults in the surrounding region. Its soft alluvial soils can amplify and prolong that shaking even for distant events.
Is Jakarta on a fault line?
Jakarta is not built directly on a major fault, but active faults such as the Baribis Fault run near the metropolitan area, and the Sunda megathrust lies offshore to the south. Both are studied as sources of potential strong shaking.
Has Jakarta had a major earthquake?
Jakarta has largely been spared a direct major rupture in modern times, but it has been shaken by regional events, including the 2009 Tasikmalaya earthquake. Seismologists caution that its soft-soil amplification raises the risk from a future large regional event.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.