Indonesia Earthquakes
M4.70 219 km E of Lospalos, Timor Leste
18 hours ago · Depth 22.4 km
Recent Indonesia Earthquakes (Past 24 Hours)
- M4.10274 km WSW of Tual, Indonesia
- M4.60100 km SSW of Kencong, Indonesia
- M4.60122 km SE of Bitung, Indonesia
- M4.70219 km E of Lospalos, Timor Leste
- M4.6025 km SSE of Blitar, Indonesia
Source: USGS
Earthquakes Across the Indonesian Archipelago
Indonesia sits in one of Earth’s most complex earthquake zones. Subduction west of Sumatra and south of Java interacts with major land faults, volcanic arcs and numerous smaller crustal blocks across Sulawesi, Maluku, the Banda Sea and Indonesian Papua.
The map shows the latest available earthquake activity across Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, Maluku and Indonesian Papua. It includes earthquakes of magnitude 1.5 and above, with times displayed in UTC.
Each coloured circle marks an earthquake location. Select one to view its magnitude, reported location, time and depth. Use the controls to compare activity from the last hour, 24 hours, 7 days or 30 days.
indonesia earthquakes (map loads with JavaScript)
The map includes the Indonesian archipelago and nearby offshore earthquake zones. Events close to Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea or other international boundaries may be included or excluded according to their coordinates and catalogue location descriptions.
📊 Indonesia Earthquake Statistics
219 km E of Lospalos, Timor Leste
152 km W of Gorontalo, Indonesia
39 km WSW of Tambolaka, Indonesia
66 km NNW of Ende, Indonesia
Magnitude 1.5+ • Data from USGS
Why Indonesia Has So Many Earthquakes
Indonesia is not positioned above one simple meeting point between four plates. It occupies a wide and intensely deformed region where subduction zones, crustal blocks, volcanic arcs and major faults interact. The broad western part of the country is dominated by the convergence of the Indian and Australian plates with the Sunda Plate, while eastern Indonesia is divided among smaller blocks caught between the Australian, Pacific, Philippine Sea and Sunda tectonic systems.
This distinction matters because different parts of Indonesia produce different types of earthquakes. Sumatra and Java are strongly influenced by the Sunda subduction zone. Sulawesi is cut by fast-moving strike-slip faults and surrounded by collision and subduction zones. Around Maluku and the Banda Sea, descending slabs bend through a particularly complicated three-dimensional structure. Indonesian Papua lies within another broad zone of collision, faulting and crustal deformation.
The result is a country exposed to shallow fault earthquakes, megathrust earthquakes, intermediate and deep earthquakes within descending plates, earthquake-triggered landslides, liquefaction and several kinds of tsunami.
Indonesia’s Main Earthquake Zones
The Sunda Megathrust
The Sunda Megathrust follows the western coast of Sumatra before continuing south of Java, Bali and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Along this boundary, oceanic crust belonging to the Indian and Australian plates descends beneath the Sunda Plate and adjoining parts of the Indonesian archipelago.
The plate boundary is divided into segments rather than behaving as one unbroken fault that ruptures from end to end. Some segments have produced enormous earthquakes, while others have generated smaller but still destructive events. Scientists examine historical records, seafloor structures, modern seismicity, crustal movement and evidence preserved in corals and coastal sediments to understand how different portions of the megathrust behave.
Research published through Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency shows that the Java section is not geologically uniform. Seamounts, ridges, sediments and changes in the shape of the incoming plate influence deformation and earthquake activity along the margin.
The Sumatran Fault
Subduction off Sumatra occurs at an angle rather than directly perpendicular to the trench. Part of that plate movement is taken up offshore, while a substantial sideways component is transferred to the Great Sumatran Fault on land.
The Earth Observatory of Singapore describes the Sumatran Fault as an approximately 1,900-kilometre right-lateral fault divided into numerous segments. It runs along much of the island near populated valleys, towns and the volcanic arc. Individual segments can rupture independently, which is why a quiet period on one part of the fault says little about what another segment may do.
Java’s Offshore and Inland Sources
Java’s most obvious tectonic boundary is the subduction zone offshore to the south, but not every damaging Java earthquake originates on the megathrust. Active faults within the overriding plate can produce shallow earthquakes much closer to cities.
This helps explain why a moderate shallow earthquake beneath Java can be more destructive locally than a substantially larger but distant or deeper event. Population density, vulnerable masonry, local soil and the depth of the rupture can all magnify the consequences.
Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores
South of Bali and Nusa Tenggara, the Australian Plate descends beneath the island arc. Another major structure, the Flores Back-Arc Thrust, lies north of parts of this island chain. Earthquakes can therefore occur on both sides of islands such as Lombok and Sumbawa.
The damaging 2018 Lombok sequence was associated with shallow thrust movement on or close to the Flores Back-Arc Thrust rather than the better-known subduction boundary south of the island. This is an important reminder that Indonesia’s earthquake risk cannot be understood by looking only at its ocean trenches.
Sulawesi and the Palu-Koro Fault
Sulawesi is made from several geological provinces joined and deformed by collision, rotation and fault movement. Its unusual shape reflects that complicated history. Major active structures include the Palu-Koro, Matano, Lawanopo and other faults, along with the North Sulawesi subduction zone.
The left-lateral Palu-Koro Fault crosses Central Sulawesi and continues beneath Palu Bay. The Indonesian Geological Agency’s review of the 2018 Palu disaster describes the fault, the local geology and the extraordinary flows of liquefied ground that affected communities around the Palu Valley.
Maluku and the Banda Sea
Eastern Indonesia does not have a single dominant boundary comparable to the long Sunda Megathrust. Around the Molucca Sea, opposing subduction systems have consumed oceanic crust from two directions. Farther south, the descending Australian plate curves deeply beneath the Banda Sea.
This geometry produces earthquakes across a remarkable range of depths. Shallow earthquakes occur around active faults and plate boundaries, while intermediate and very deep earthquakes trace the descending slabs beneath the region. Deep events can be felt across several islands, although their depth usually reduces concentrated surface damage near the epicentre.
Indonesian Papua
Indonesia’s easternmost provinces occupy a broad deformation zone near the northern edge of the Australian Plate. Earthquake activity is distributed among thrust faults, strike-slip faults and smaller crustal blocks rather than one easily defined plate boundary. Events near the international border may be reported using place names in either Indonesian Papua or Papua New Guinea, which can affect how catalogue filters classify them.
What Earthquake Depth Reveals
Shallow Indonesian earthquakes often deserve the most attention because their seismic energy reaches the surface over a shorter distance. Earthquakes on the Sumatran Fault, Palu-Koro Fault, Flores Back-Arc Thrust and faults beneath Java can cause intense shaking even when their magnitudes are lower than those of major offshore earthquakes.
Intermediate and deep earthquakes usually occur inside a plate that has already descended beneath the islands. On the map, these events can form sloping bands extending inland from a trench. A deep earthquake may be felt across an unusually wide area because seismic waves spread through a large volume of rock, but it is less likely to break the ground surface directly above it.
Depth does not make an earthquake automatically harmless. Magnitude, distance, building strength, soil conditions and the direction in which the fault ruptures all influence the shaking experienced in each community.
Earthquakes That Changed Indonesia
Indonesia’s earthquake record includes enormous megathrust ruptures, destructive earthquakes beneath densely populated areas and disasters in which tsunami, landslides or liquefaction caused as much destruction as the shaking itself. Magnitudes and casualty totals can differ slightly between agencies, particularly for older events.
The 2026 Flores and East Nusa Tenggara Earthquake
On August 15, 2026, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck north of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. Strong shaking damaged communities across the island, triggered landslides and generated tsunami waves along parts of the coast. Thousands of aftershocks followed.
The disaster killed at least 100 people, damaged more than 73,000 homes and forced approximately 180,000 people to evacuate, according to an August 24 Reuters update based on Indonesia’s disaster agency. A later BMKG review of the earthquake and tsunami warning examines how the alert system performed.
The 2022 Cianjur Earthquake
The November 21, 2022 Cianjur earthquake in West Java had a magnitude of only 5.6, yet it caused severe loss of life and extensive damage. It was shallow, close to communities and affected an area containing vulnerable buildings and slopes susceptible to failure.
Homes, schools and other community facilities were damaged or destroyed. A World Bank account of school reconstruction reports that more than 13,000 students at private schools were affected. Cianjur demonstrates why magnitude alone is not a complete measure of danger.
The 2018 Palu Earthquake, Tsunami and Liquefaction
On September 28, 2018, a shallow magnitude 7.5 earthquake ruptured the Palu-Koro Fault in Central Sulawesi. It produced intense shaking, a destructive tsunami in Palu Bay and extraordinary ground failures in places such as Balaroa, Petobo and Jono Oge.
Water-saturated ground in parts of the Palu Valley lost strength and moved laterally, carrying buildings and large sections of neighbourhoods with it. The Indonesian Geological Agency’s geological review of the Palu disaster explains the fault rupture, local geology and catastrophic liquefaction.
The tsunami probably resulted from a combination of fault movement, the narrow shape of Palu Bay, complex seafloor displacement and possible underwater landslides. Treating it as the result of one straightforward mechanism would overlook an important area of continuing research.
The 2018 Lombok Earthquake Sequence
A sequence of powerful earthquakes struck Lombok during July and August 2018. The largest was reported as magnitude 6.9 by the USGS and 7.0 by BMKG. Several hundred people were killed, buildings collapsed across northern Lombok and repeated strong earthquakes complicated rescue and recovery.
The earthquakes were associated with shallow thrust movement on or near the Flores Back-Arc Thrust north of the island, rather than the better-known subduction boundary to the south. The reviewed mainshock record provides the event parameters and regional shaking information.
The Unusual 2012 Indian Ocean Earthquake
The magnitude 8.6 earthquake west of northern Sumatra on April 11, 2012 was one of the largest strike-slip earthquakes ever recorded. Its principal movement was horizontal rather than the vertical seafloor displacement normally associated with the most destructive tsunamis.
Damage and tsunami effects were limited compared with the earthquake’s enormous magnitude, but seismic waves triggered earthquakes on faults around the world. A USGS research summary explains this unusual global response.
The 2010 Mentawai Earthquake and Tsunami
On October 25, 2010, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake off western Sumatra generated a destructive local tsunami across the Mentawai Islands. More than 400 people were killed and thousands were displaced.
The event is described as a tsunami earthquake because its relatively slow rupture generated a much larger tsunami than many coastal residents might have expected from the shaking. The UNESCO-IOC survey of the Mentawai disaster records the earthquake, tsunami and field investigation.
The 2009 Padang Earthquake
The magnitude 7.6 Padang earthquake struck West Sumatra on September 30, 2009. More than 1,100 people died, thousands were injured and extensive damage occurred to homes, public buildings and infrastructure.
Although the earthquake occurred near the Sumatran subduction margin, it ruptured within the descending plate rather than breaking the shallow megathrust interface. The official Padang disaster-management agency account commemorates the event and its effects on the city.
The 2007 Bengkulu Earthquake Sequence
One of the largest Indonesian earthquakes since 2004 struck off southern Sumatra in September 2007. The first earthquake was calculated at approximately magnitude 8.4 to 8.5 and was followed by other major earthquakes, including one close to magnitude 8.
The sequence ruptured part of the Sunda Megathrust, generated small tsunamis and provided valuable information about how stress was being transferred between adjacent sections of the plate boundary. A peer-reviewed reconstruction in the Journal of Geophysical Research used tsunami observations and satellite measurements to map the main rupture.
Java’s Two Different Disasters in 2006
Two destructive earthquakes struck Java in 2006, but they had different sources and consequences.
The May 27 Yogyakarta earthquake was a shallow magnitude 6.3 event within the overriding Sunda Plate. More than 5,700 people were killed and widespread destruction affected Yogyakarta and Central Java. The Asian Development Bank’s damage and loss assessment describes the scale of the disaster and the basis for reconstruction.
The July 17 south Java earthquake was a separate magnitude 7.7 event on the offshore subduction zone. It generated a destructive tsunami even though shaking was not especially strong in many coastal communities. The NOAA Center for Tsunami Research records the earthquake source and resulting tsunami.
The 2005 Nias–Simeulue Earthquake
The magnitude 8.6 Nias–Simeulue earthquake struck on March 28, 2005, rupturing the Sunda Megathrust immediately south of much of the 2004 rupture. Nias and neighbouring islands experienced severe shaking, building collapse and permanent changes in land level.
Research summarized by the Earth Observatory of Singapore reconstructed how the rupture spread using seismic and geodetic observations. Parts of the outer islands rose by several metres during the earthquake.
The 2004 Sumatra–Andaman Earthquake and Indian Ocean Tsunami
On December 26, 2004, a magnitude 9.1 earthquake began off northern Sumatra and ruptured northward for roughly 1,200 kilometres along the Sunda Megathrust. The movement displaced the seafloor and generated a tsunami that crossed the Indian Ocean.
NOAA’s historical account explains how the tsunami devastated coastlines across the region. Indonesia suffered the greatest losses, particularly in Aceh. The catastrophe led to major changes in Indian Ocean tsunami detection, international warning coordination and coastal education.
The 1992 Flores Earthquake and Tsunami
On December 12, 1992, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake north of Flores generated a local tsunami that reached some communities within minutes. Maumere, Babi Island and parts of the northeastern coast suffered catastrophic destruction.
The UNESCO-IOC historical record reports 1,690 deaths and approximately 18,000 destroyed homes, although some later estimates place the overall toll higher. Waves reached exceptional heights in some locations, possibly because earthquake-triggered underwater landslides added to the tsunami. The disaster provides important context for the 2026 earthquake in the same wider region.
Why Some Moderate Earthquakes Become Disasters
Indonesia’s largest earthquakes are not automatically its most damaging. A moderate earthquake can be devastating when it is shallow, close to a densely populated area and surrounded by buildings that cannot withstand strong sideways movement.
Local geology also matters. Soft sediment can amplify shaking, steep slopes can fail, and loose water-saturated soil can liquefy. The 2009 Padang, 2018 Palu and 2022 Cianjur disasters produced different combinations of these hazards. This is why earthquake risk cannot be judged from magnitude or distance alone.
Indonesia’s Tsunami Risk
Indonesia can experience local tsunamis that reach shore quickly and distant tsunamis that travel across an ocean basin. Large shallow earthquakes on offshore thrust faults are an important source, but not every large or offshore earthquake will generate a tsunami. Significant vertical movement of the seafloor is normally required.
Indonesia’s narrow bays, steep coastal slopes and nearby submarine faults can complicate the hazard. A tsunami may be amplified as it enters shallow or confined water, while underwater landslides can add to the waves produced by fault movement.
Not all Indonesian tsunamis begin with a conventional tectonic earthquake. The December 2018 Sunda Strait tsunami followed the collapse of part of Anak Krakatau during volcanic activity. BMKG explains through its non-tectonic tsunami program why a system designed primarily to detect earthquake-generated tsunamis faced difficulties identifying that event.
People near the coast should know the natural warning signs. Strong or prolonged shaking, an unusual rise or fall of the sea, or a loud sound from the ocean may mean a local tsunami is approaching. Move inland or to higher ground immediately and follow instructions from Indonesian authorities. Do not go to the shore to watch the water.
Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring in Indonesia
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, known as BMKG, monitors earthquakes and issues earthquake and tsunami information. The public Indonesia Tsunami Early Warning System provides earthquake parameters, source-mechanism information, tsunami modelling and official guidance when a potentially tsunamigenic earthquake occurs.
BMKG earthquake parameters may differ slightly from figures reported by international catalogues. Early estimates are calculated from the information available immediately after an earthquake and can be revised when more seismic observations are processed. Differences between agencies do not necessarily mean that one report is wrong.
Indonesia is also developing earthquake early-warning capabilities, but an earthquake warning is not the same as prediction. Sensors can detect an earthquake after rupture has started and may provide some locations with seconds of notice before stronger waves arrive. No system can currently predict the exact date, location and magnitude of an earthquake before it begins.
Magnitude and Shaking Intensity
Magnitude describes the overall size of an earthquake at its source. An earthquake has one final magnitude estimate from each agency, although different calculation methods can produce slightly different results.
Intensity describes what the shaking was like at a particular place. BMKG reports felt shaking using the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. One earthquake can produce strong intensity near its source, weaker intensity farther away and locally amplified shaking on soft ground. The BMKG explanation of the MMI scale describes the observed effects associated with its different levels.
Tectonic and Volcanic Earthquakes Are Not the Same
Indonesia’s volcanic arcs exist because of the same broad plate processes that produce many of its earthquakes, but this does not mean every earthquake near a volcano is volcanic. Most earthquakes shown on a regional tectonic map are caused by movement on faults or within descending plates.
Volcano-tectonic earthquakes are smaller events associated with rock breaking as magma and volcanic fluids move beneath a volcano. They are monitored alongside gas emissions, deformation, temperature and visual observations. The Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources identifies 127 active Indonesian volcanoes, with monitoring and warnings handled by the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation, or PVMBG.
A regional earthquake catalogue should not be used as a substitute for official volcano alerts. Anyone living near or visiting an active volcano should follow current PVMBG recommendations and exclusion zones.
Preparing for an Earthquake in Indonesia
Before an earthquake, identify safe places away from windows and unsecured furniture. Secure tall cabinets, water tanks and heavy objects that could fall. People in coastal communities should also learn their local tsunami route and identify high ground that can be reached without a vehicle.
During strong shaking, drop to your hands and knees, take cover beneath sturdy furniture where possible, and hold on until the movement stops. Avoid running outside while roof tiles, glass and masonry may be falling. If you are already outside, move away from buildings, walls, utility lines and other overhead hazards.
After an earthquake, expect aftershocks and avoid damaged buildings. In coastal areas, strong or prolonged shaking should be treated as a possible natural tsunami warning. Our earthquake safety guide explains what to do during and immediately after the shaking.
Households should keep water, essential food, medication, lighting, first-aid supplies and a way to receive official information. See our earthquake preparedness checklist for a practical guide to emergency supplies.
🗺️ Related Earthquake Maps
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