Shallow M5.5 earthquake hits near Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

An earthquake measuring M5.5 was recorded at 22:37 UTC on August 14, 2026, about 49 km (30 miles) northeast of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. The event originated at a shallow depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), with the epicenter located at coordinates 120.2°E, 8.2°S.

The location of the quake places it in the Lesser Sunda Islands, an area characterized by its proximity to several active tectonic boundaries near the Flores Sea. Labuan Bajo is a coastal town known as a gateway to Komodo National Park; the surrounding area includes small settlements and limited regional infrastructure.

Given the region’s geography, essential infrastructure such as local roads, small sea ports, and regional airports may be found nearby, potentially connecting coastal and inland communities.

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 for this earthquake is V, with a significance index of 465 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude and estimated impact.

Indonesia sits on the complex tectonic boundary between the Indo-Australian Plate and the Eurasian Plate, which results in frequent seismic activity across the region, particularly along subduction zones and adjacent fault systems.

This information was last updated at 23:02 UTC on August 14, 2026.