Significant M5.9 Earthquake struck on Thursday Morning in the Banda Sea 258km from Atambua (Indonesia).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on May 15th, 2025. Last updated June 21st, 2025.

A significant M5.9 earthquake struck in the Banda Sea 258 kilometer from Atambua, Indonesia in the morning of Thursday May 15th, 2025. Around 1 million people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is Timor-Leste.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Banda Sea, 61 kilometers (38 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 258 kilometer north-northeast of Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara. The center of this earthquake had a deep depth of 477 km.

Date and Time:	May 15, 2025 09:50 (Dili Time) - May 15, 2025 00:50 Universal Time.
Location:	170 km NNE of Dili, Díli, Timor-Leste. Coordinates 7°8'10"S 126°7'59"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 48 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.045 .
Depth:	477 km (296 mi) A deep depth.
Max. Intensity:	III Weak On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Tsunami very unlikely Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 at depths deeper than 100km are very unlikely to 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 1 million people exposed to shaking

An estimated 1 million 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 II, which corresponds with very weak shaking and no damage. Roughly 1,044,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 0.9 million people were exposed to shaking in Timor-Leste , with level II (very weak shaking, no damage) as the highest recorded. In Indonesia , around 160 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
307,800	I	Not noticable	None
1,044,000	II	Very weak	None
0	III	Weak	Probably none
0	IV	Light	Likely none
0	V	Moderate	Very light
0	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

2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Timor-Leste and Indonesia .

Baukau in Baucau, Timor-Leste is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 153 kilometer (95 mi) north-northwest of Baukau. The intensity of shaking and damage in Baukau is estimated to be around level II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (very weak shaking, no damage).

An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
153 km (95 mi) SSE from epicenter	Baukau Baucau, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
170 km (106 mi) SSW from epicenter	Dili Díli, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
170 km (106 mi) S from epicenter	Venilale Baucau, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
181 km (112 mi) SSE from epicenter	Lospalos Lautém, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
183 km (114 mi) SSW from epicenter	Likisá Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
188 km (117 mi) SSW from epicenter	Aileu Aileu, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
193 km (120 mi) SSW from epicenter	Maubara Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
230 km (143 mi) SSW from epicenter	Maliana Bobonaro, Timor-Leste.
258 km (160 mi) SSW from epicenter	Atambua East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
261 km (162 mi) SSW from epicenter	Suai Cova Lima, Timor-Leste.
315 km (196 mi) SW from epicenter	Kefamenanu East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
365 km (227 mi) SSW from epicenter	Soe East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is II. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.

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 3 people

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 3 people have reported shaking in one place in East Timor.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Dili, Dili, East Timor: 3 people.

Risk of aftershocks?

This earthquake did not have any significant foreshocks nor aftershocks occurring within 100km (62 mi) of its epicenter.

Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.

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).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 1st, 2024, when a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit 187 km (116 mi) further northwest. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on December 29th, 2021.

In total, 12 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.9 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 10 months.

Tsunami very unlikely

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.

For a serious tsunami to occur, earthquakes usually need to have a magnitude of at least 6.5 and occur at a shallow depth of maximum 100km. Neither are the case with this earthquake. However always 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 5.9. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 477 km (296 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 21/06/25 02:48 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.