# M5.7 Earthquake: 36 km WSW of Tambolaka, Indonesia

Updated 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026. Canonical: https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-03-m5-7-tambolaka-indonesia

A **magnitude 5.7** earthquake struck 36 km WSW of Tambolaka, Indonesia at 22:55 UTC on 3 Oct 2026, at a depth of 17 km, reported by USGS. USGS PAGER issued a green alert: little or no damage and a low chance of deaths. USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. So far 8 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been recorded within 50 km, the largest a M4.7.

## Key numbers

- Magnitude (USGS): **M5.7** (mww)
- Depth: **17 km** (shallow)
- USGS PAGER impact alert: **GREEN** (estimated impact)
- Aftershocks M2.5+ so far: **8** (within 50 km)

## Nearest places

- [37 KM] Tambolaka, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (37 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 35,790)
- [121 KM] Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (121 km from the epicentre, quake was S of here, population 155,140)
- [122 KM] Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (122 km from the epicentre, quake was SSE of here, population 54,987)
- [148 KM] Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (148 km from the epicentre, quake was W of here, population 35,932)
- [326 KM] Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia (326 km from the epicentre, quake was ESE of here, population 429,651)
- [157 KM] Labuan Bajo, Indonesia (157 km from the epicentre, quake was SW of here, population 189,000)
- [403 KM] Klungkung, Indonesia (403 km from the epicentre, quake was ESE of here, population 224,000)

## Strongest aftershocks so far

- [LOW] [M4.7 · 39 km SW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u0wb) (2026-10-08 05:06 UTC, 60 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.5 · 53 km SW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tznk) (2026-10-05 12:17 UTC, 35 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.5 · 40 km WSW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tzss) (2026-10-05 21:38 UTC, 35 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.5 · 71 km SW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u20i) (2026-10-13 09:48 UTC, 35 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.4 · 50 km SW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tzwb) (2026-10-06 12:40 UTC, 53 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.2 · 46 km SW of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tzjg) (2026-10-04 14:59 UTC, 35 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.1 · 43 km S of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u233) (2026-10-04 23:19 UTC, 35 km deep, USGS)
- [LOW] [M4.1 · 32 km W of Tambolaka, Indonesia](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000u3vk) (2026-10-12 16:56 UTC, 66 km deep, USGS)

## Key context

### Tectonic setting

**Banda Sea and Molucca Sea.** Eastern Indonesia is a tangle of small plates where the Australian Plate collides with the Banda Arc and two slabs subduct under the Molucca Sea. Quakes here range from shallow to more than 600 km deep, and strike-slip faults such as Palu-Koro (M7.5 Palu quake and tsunami, 2018) cut through Sulawesi.

The USGS moment tensor shows normal faulting: the crust was pulled apart and one block dropped down, typical of stretching crust or of bending in a sinking slab.

At 17 km it was a very shallow quake: shallow quakes shake the ground above them hardest, so local damage depends on how close towns are.

### Shaking and impact

USGS PAGER estimates the impact from the shaking and the number of people exposed. For this quake it issued a green alert: little or no damage and a low chance of deaths (fatality alert: green, economic loss alert: green). PAGER is an early estimate and can change as reports come in.

The USGS ShakeMap estimates the strongest shaking at intensity VI on the Modified Mercalli scale (strong).

5 people sent a "Did You Feel It?" report to USGS, with the strongest reported intensity V (moderate).

Estimated shaking in nearby towns, from USGS PAGER.

| Town | Population | Estimated intensity |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tambolaka | 35,790 | V (moderate) |
| Waikabubak | 33,064 | IV (light) |

### Aftershocks

This page counts quakes of M2.5 or more within 50 km after the main shock, from the USGS catalog (last checked 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026): 8 aftershocks so far.

Aftershocks are normal after a quake of this size. They usually become less frequent over days and weeks, but a strong aftershock can still happen, and in a few sequences a later quake is larger. No one can predict their exact time or size; follow the official agency for your area.

### Earthquake history within 250 km

Since 1976, USGS lists 558 quakes of M5 or more within 250 km of this epicentre, about 11 a year. Since 1900 the same circle had 102 quakes of M5.7 or larger.

Largest earlier quakes within 250 km, USGS catalog since 1900 (M6+).

| Magnitude | Place (USGS) | Date | Depth |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| M8.3 | 1977 Sumba, Indonesia Earthquake | 1977-08-19 | 16 km |
| M7.0 | 84 km SSE of Dompu, Indonesia | 1922-05-09 | 35 km |
| M6.8 | 35 km SW of Ruteng, Indonesia | 1968-01-26 | 25 km |
| M6.7 | 46 km NE of Bima, Indonesia | 1954-11-02 | 20 km |
| M6.7 | 24 km ESE of Ruteng, Indonesia | 1928-11-28 | 20 km |
| M6.6 | 29 km NNW of Bima, Indonesia | 2009-11-08 | 18 km |
| M6.5 | 28 km NNW of Dompu, Indonesia | 2007-11-25 | 20 km |
| M6.5 | 120 km WSW of Waingapu, Indonesia | 1986-12-19 | 25 km |

### Official information

- [BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency)](https://www.bmkg.go.id/)
- [EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)](https://www.emsc-csem.org/)
- [USGS event page for this quake](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tzer) (ShakeMap, PAGER, felt reports)
- [tsunami.gov](https://www.tsunami.gov/) for US tsunami bulletins

### Data status

USGS review status: reviewed. Magnitude type: mww. USGS last updated this event on 24 Oct 2026 at 21:58 UTC. Magnitude, depth and location can still be revised; this page keeps the same address if they change.

## FAQ

### How strong was the earthquake near Tambolaka, Indonesia?

USGS measured it at magnitude 5.7 (mww), 17 km deep. The strongest estimated shaking was intensity VI (strong). Quakes of M5 to 5.9 are classed as moderate.

### Was there a tsunami?

USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. If you are on a coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground anyway, and follow local officials.

### Was the earthquake felt?

Yes. 5 people reported it to USGS "Did You Feel It?", with reports up to intensity V.

### Will there be more aftershocks?

Aftershocks are likely to continue for days to weeks, becoming less frequent over time. So far 8 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been listed. Most sequences do not produce a larger quake, but some do. No one can predict the time or size of the next one; follow BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency).

### What should I do after a strong earthquake?

Expect aftershocks: Drop, Cover and Hold On when shaking starts again. Check for injuries and damage, stay out of damaged buildings, and use text messages instead of calls so emergency lines stay free. On a coast, move to high ground after strong shaking. Follow your local officials.

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## Sources

- [USGS event page](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000tzer): magnitude, location, ShakeMap, PAGER and Did You Feel It? data for this event. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
- [USGS ComCat (FDSN event web service)](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/fdsnws/event/1/): the USGS earthquake catalog, used for the 30-year counts, history and aftershocks. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
- [USGS Geoserve](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ws/geoserve/): nearest places to the epicentre.
- [GeoNames](https://www.geonames.org/): large-city coordinates, CC BY 4.0.

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