Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes Indonesia's Sumbawa region

A moderate earthquake off the island of Sumbawa caused shaking across Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands on Sunday, with no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.9 struck the Sumbawa region of Indonesia on Sunday, October 4, 2026, according to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ). The quake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located at coordinates 9.69 degrees south latitude and 118.93 degrees east longitude. The tremor was felt across Indonesia's eastern islands, including neighboring Sumba and Flores. The Malaysian Meteorological Department reported a separate but nearby 5.8-magnitude quake near Meulaboh in North Sumatra at 7:37 am on the same day. Regional meteorological authorities confirmed that while tremors may have been felt across western peninsular Malaysia, there was no tsunami threat to the country. Initial reports indicated no significant damage or casualties from either earthquake.

How could this affect you

Traced by who's actually in the path of this — not everyone is.

Likely

Insurance and disaster relief organizations operating in Indonesia

Moderate earthquakes in seismically active regions like Sumbawa can trigger building damage and infrastructure disruption requiring rapid assessment and response deployment

Possible

Regional aviation and maritime operators

Earthquakes can disrupt airport operations and maritime traffic through damage to facilities or safety protocols, though this event's depth and magnitude suggest limited immediate disruption