Shallow M5.9 earthquake hits Sumba, Indonesia

A shallow M5.9 earthquake was recorded at 22:55 UTC on October 3, 2026, about 39 km (24 miles) west-southwest of Tambolaka, Indonesia. The event occurred at a depth of 46.0 km (28.6 miles), as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The epicenter was located at coordinates 118.9°E, 9.6°S, near the western part of Sumba, an island in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. Tambolaka is the nearest notable town in this sparsely populated region, with several surrounding villages.

Given the region’s geography, critical infrastructure likely includes regional airports, local roadways, ferry ports, and small energy facilities serving island communities.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS reported one felt report for this event. The maximum estimated intensity reached V, and the significance index is 536 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Indonesia sits atop the complex tectonic boundary between the Australian and Eurasian Plates. The country is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, which frequently experiences significant earthquakes due to subduction and faulting processes.

This information was last updated at 23:18 UTC on October 3, 2026.