Significant M5.9 Earthquake hit in the Banda Sea 363km from Atambua (Indonesia) on Sunday Night.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on March 28th, 2026. Last updated March 31st, 2026.

Deep in the night of Sunday March 29th, 2026, a significant Magnitude 5.9 earthquake hit in the Banda Sea 363 kilometer from Atambua, Indonesia. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 450 thousand people. Another country near the epicenter is Timor-Leste.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Banda Sea, 31 kilometers (19 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 363 kilometer north-east of Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 159 km.

Date and Time:	Mar 29, 2026 03:38 (Dili Time) - Mar 28, 2026 18:38 Universal Time.
Location:	268 km NE of Dili, Díli, Timor-Leste. Coordinates 7°29'16"S 127°45'20"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 62 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.039 .
Depth:	159 km (99 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light 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 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 90% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact.

Roughly 450 thousand people exposed to shaking

The USGS has published a report estimating the number of people exposed to this earthquake. Acoording to their analysis, roughly 450 thousand have been exposed to shaking at an MMI level of II or higher.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 9,450 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 430 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 380 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Timor-Leste , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Indonesia , around 70 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
5,560	II	Very weak	None
431,800	III	Weak	Probably none
9,450	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

Timor-Leste and Indonesia are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Located 142 kilometer (88 mi) north-east of the epicenter of this earthquake, Lospalos (Lautém, Timor-Leste) is the nearest significant population center. Lospalos experienced an earthquake intensity (MMI Scale) of roughly III. That level implies weak shaking and probably no damage.

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
142 km (88 mi) SW from epicenter	Lospalos Lautém, Timor-Leste.	III Weak
180 km (112 mi) SW from epicenter	Baukau Baucau, Timor-Leste.	III Weak
199 km (124 mi) SW from epicenter	Venilale Baucau, Timor-Leste.	III Weak
268 km (167 mi) SW from epicenter	Dili Díli, Timor-Leste.
278 km (173 mi) SW from epicenter	Aileu Aileu, Timor-Leste.
293 km (182 mi) SW from epicenter	Likisá Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.
307 km (191 mi) SW from epicenter	Maubara Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.
325 km (202 mi) SW from epicenter	Maliana Bobonaro, Timor-Leste.
342 km (213 mi) SW from epicenter	Suai Cova Lima, Timor-Leste.
363 km (226 mi) SW from epicenter	Atambua East Nusa Tenggara, 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 IV.

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 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: 1 person.

5 Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 5 smaller aftershocks occurred. A 4.9 magnitude earthquake hit 1 day later 92 km (57 mi) east of this earthquake.

Before this earthquake struck, 1 smaller foreshock occurred. A 4.3 magnitude earthquake hit 2 days earlier nearby.

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 4.3	2 days earlier Mar 27, 2026 05:13 (Dili Time)	14 km (9 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Mar 29, 2026 03:38 (Dili Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.2	16 hrs later Mar 29, 2026 19:09 (Dili Time)	67 km (42 mi) NW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 2.7	22 hrs later Mar 30, 2026 01:30 (Dili Time)	42 km (26 mi) SW from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.6	1 day later Mar 30, 2026 11:36 (Dili Time)	76 km (47 mi) E from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 4.9	1 day later Mar 30, 2026 13:00 (Dili Time)	92 km (57 mi) E from Main Shock.
Aftershock	M 3.3	2 days later Mar 31, 2026 05:17 (Dili Time)	43 km (27 mi) SE from Main Shock.

More earthquakes coming?

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 happen often in the region

Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since October 28th, 2025, when a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit 262 km (163 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck on January 9th, 2023.

In total, 18 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 7 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 159 km (99 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 31/03/26 17:48 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.