M6.4 earthquake strikes Banda Sea (Updated)
An M6.4 earthquake was recorded at 14:40 UTC on October 28, 2025, in the Banda Sea. The event was detected at a depth of 142.0 km (88.2 miles) at coordinates 130.0°E, 6.7°S.
The location of the earthquake places it in the Banda Sea, part of eastern Indonesia, an area known for significant tectonic activity, surrounded mainly by small islands and distant from densely populated urban centers.
Given its position in the Banda Sea, critical infrastructure potentially near the shaking zone could include regional ports, shipping lanes, and small airstrips on surrounding islands. However, the epicentral area itself is primarily open water.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity reached IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. Thirteen felt reports were submitted. The significance index is 634 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.
The Banda Sea region is characterized by complex tectonics involving the collision of the Indo-Australian, Pacific, and Eurasian Plates, making it prone to frequent moderate to strong seismic activity.
This information was last updated at 20:09 UTC on October 28, 2025.