Shallow M5.7 earthquake hits Papua, Indonesia
A shallow M5.7 earthquake was recorded at 22:51 UTC on March 26, 2026, approximately 153 km (95 miles) west-southwest of Abepura, Indonesia. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 53.9 km (33.5 miles), as reported by the US Geological Survey (USGS).
The epicenter was located at 139.4°E, 3.2°S, positioning the quake in the Papua region of eastern Indonesia. This area is characterized by a mix of urban centers and remote communities, with varying population densities and limited accessibility in some zones due to the island’s terrain.
Given the region’s location on the island of New Guinea, critical infrastructure such as provincial roads, local airports, and small ports may be situated within the broader impact area. Major national infrastructure is limited in this remote part of Papua.
There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.
The significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, available impact estimates, and associated USGS analyses.
Eastern Indonesia, including the Papua region, is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. This area regularly experiences tectonic earthquakes due to the complex interactions between the Pacific, Australian, and smaller local plates.
This information was last updated at 23:09 UTC on March 26, 2026.