In the Banda Sea 98 kilometer from Lospalos, Timor-Leste, a significant MAG-5.3 earthquake occurred in the night of Saturday June 6th, 2026.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Banda Sea, 73 kilometers (45 mi) off the coast of Timor-Leste, 98 kilometer north of Lospalos in Lautém. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 154 km.
| Date and Time: | Jun 6, 2026 00:57 (Dili Time) - Jun 5, 2026 15:57 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 98 km north of Lospalos, Lautém, Timor-Leste. Coordinates 7°40'51"S 127°15'55"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.3 Detected by 21 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.068 . |
| Depth: | 154 km (96 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| 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. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake may have been felt in Timor-Leste . Located 98 kilometer (61 mi) north of the epicenter of this earthquake, Lospalos (Lautém, Timor-Leste) is the nearest significant population center.
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 98 km (61 mi) S from epicenter |
Lospalos Lautém, Timor-Leste. |
| 125 km (78 mi) SW from epicenter |
Baukau Baucau, Timor-Leste. |
| 145 km (90 mi) SW from epicenter |
Venilale Baucau, Timor-Leste. |
| 210 km (130 mi) SW from epicenter |
Dili Díli, Timor-Leste. |
| 220 km (137 mi) SW from epicenter |
Aileu Aileu, Timor-Leste. |
| 234 km (145 mi) SW from epicenter |
Likisá Liquiçá, Timor-Leste. |
| 249 km (155 mi) SW from epicenter |
Maubara Liquiçá, Timor-Leste. |
| 268 km (167 mi) SW from epicenter |
Maliana Bobonaro, Timor-Leste. |
| 286 km (178 mi) SW from epicenter |
Suai Cova Lima, Timor-Leste. |
Risk of aftershocks?
We have not yet detected any foreshocks or aftershocks (MAG-2.5 or higher) within 100km (62 mi) of this earthquake.
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 March 28th, 2026, when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit 68 km (42 mi) further east. An even stronger magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck on December 29th, 2021.
In total, 48 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.3 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 3 months.
Tsunami very unlikely
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 5.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 154 km (96 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 05/06/26 18:48 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000sqvk
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260605_0000229
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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