Shallow M6.1 Earthquake hit in the Seram Sea 311km from Ambon (Indonesia) on Monday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 5th, 2024. Last updated May 19th, 2024.

In the Seram Sea 311 kilometer from Ambon, Indonesia, a shallow and strong MAG-6.1 earthquake occurred deep in the night of Monday May 6th, 2024. Roughly 400 thousand people may have felt this earthquake.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Seram Sea, 22 kilometers (14 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 311 kilometer east of Ambon in Maluku. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 13 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	May 6, 2024 03:33 (Jayapura Time) - May 5, 2024 18:33 Universal Time.
Location:	311 km east of Ambon, Maluku, Indonesia. Coordinates 3°18'49"S 130°57'48"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.1 Detected by 63 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.039 .
Depth:	13 km (8 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VII Very Strong On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Minimal impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.

Roughly 400 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 400 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is VI, which corresponds with strong shaking and probably light damage. Roughly 4,250 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 200 thousand) live in an area exposed to level III, where weak shaking and probably no damage is expected. All exposure to shaking was within the borders of Indonesia .

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
201,000	III	Weak	Probably none
172,300	IV	Light	Likely none
26,110	V	Moderate	Very light
4,250	VI	Strong	Light
0	VII	Very Strong	Moderate
0	VIII	Severe	Moderate to heavy
0	IX	Violent	Heavy
0	X	Extreme	Very heavy

Nearby towns and cities

This earthquake may have been felt in Indonesia . Located 227 kilometer (141 mi) east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Amahai (Maluku, Indonesia) is the nearest significant population center.

A complete list of nearby places is included below.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place
227 km (141 mi) W from epicenter	Amahai Maluku, Indonesia.
273 km (170 mi) N from epicenter	Sorong West Papua, Indonesia.
311 km (193 mi) W from epicenter	Ambon Maluku, Indonesia.
325 km (202 mi) SE from epicenter	Tual Maluku, Indonesia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VI.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Indonesia.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia: 1 person.

21 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 21 smaller aftershocks occurred. Just 4 hrs after this main shock, an earthquake measuring MAG-4.6 was detected 19 km (12 mi) south-east of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 8 smaller foreshocks. Nearby this earthquake a foreshock struck 10 hrs earlier. It measured a magnitude of 4.9

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

Detected MAG2.5+ earthquakes within within 100km (62 mi), that occurred in the three days before and after the main shock.
Classification	Magnitude	When	Where
Foreshock	M 4.7	2 days earlier May 4, 2024 15:38 (Jayapura Time)	64 km (39 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 4.9	10 hrs earlier May 5, 2024 19:39 (Jayapura Time)	25 km (16 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.9	2 hrs earlier May 6, 2024 03:58 (Jayapura Time)	12 km (7 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.6	2 hrs earlier May 6, 2024 04:03 (Jayapura Time)	11 km (7 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.1	1 hr earlier May 6, 2024 04:10 (Jayapura Time)	21 km (13 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.7	1 hr earlier May 6, 2024 04:36 (Jayapura Time)	13 km (8 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.0	46 mins earlier May 6, 2024 04:51 (Jayapura Time)	13 km (8 mi) N from Main Shock.
Foreshock	M 3.3	42 mins earlier May 6, 2024 04:55 (Jayapura Time)	6 km (4 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Main Shock	M 5.5	May 6, 2024 05:37 (Jayapura Time)	-
Aftershock	M 3.3	13 mins later May 6, 2024 05:50 (Jayapura Time)	22 km (13 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.4	20 mins later May 6, 2024 05:56 (Jayapura Time)	20 km (12 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	30 mins later May 6, 2024 06:07 (Jayapura Time)	21 km (13 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.2	55 mins later May 6, 2024 06:32 (Jayapura Time)	17 km (11 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.8	2 hrs later May 6, 2024 07:58 (Jayapura Time)	10 km (6 mi) NE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.3	3 hrs later May 6, 2024 08:19 (Jayapura Time)	20 km (13 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.3	3 hrs later May 6, 2024 08:39 (Jayapura Time)	23 km (14 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.7	3 hrs later May 6, 2024 08:43 (Jayapura Time)	15 km (10 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	4 hrs later May 6, 2024 10:03 (Jayapura Time)	19 km (12 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.0	5 hrs later May 6, 2024 10:21 (Jayapura Time)	24 km (15 mi) ESE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.3	5 hrs later May 6, 2024 10:50 (Jayapura Time)	18 km (11 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.1	5 hrs later May 6, 2024 11:00 (Jayapura Time)	18 km (11 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.0	7 hrs later May 6, 2024 12:22 (Jayapura Time)	23 km (14 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.1	8 hrs later May 6, 2024 13:55 (Jayapura Time)	11 km (7 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.9	9 hrs later May 6, 2024 14:10 (Jayapura Time)	21 km (13 mi) NNE from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.7	12 hrs later May 6, 2024 17:33 (Jayapura Time)	10 km (6 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.4	18 hrs later May 6, 2024 23:24 (Jayapura Time)	23 km (14 mi) NNW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.0	2 days later May 7, 2024 23:14 (Jayapura Time)	16 km (10 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.3	2 days later May 8, 2024 02:00 (Jayapura Time)	20 km (12 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.1	2 days later May 8, 2024 07:34 (Jayapura Time)	18 km (11 mi) N from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.5	3 days later May 8, 2024 17:42 (Jayapura Time)	24 km (15 mi) NNE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

The risk of aftershocks decreases rapidly over time. Usually, aftershocks are at least one order of magnitude lower than a main shock.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

This is the strongest earthquake in 5 years

Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 25th, 2019, when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake hit 288 km (179 mi) further west. An even stronger magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on December 9th, 2015.

In total, 2 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.1 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 5 years.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Factor	Under Sea?	MAG-6.5 or stronger?	Shallow depth?
Explanation	Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami.	Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's.	Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor.
This Earthquake	This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 6.1. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 13 km (8 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 19/05/24 00:38 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.