Significant M5.9 Earthquake struck on Saturday Evening in the Banda Sea 269km from Atambua (Indonesia).

Written by Earthquakelist.org on June 27th, 2026.

In the Banda Sea 269 kilometer from Atambua, Indonesia, a significant M5.9 earthquake occurred in the evening of Saturday June 27th, 2026. Shaking may have been felt by a total of 380 thousand people. Another country near the epicenter is Timor-Leste.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Banda Sea, 105 kilometers (65 mi) off the coast of Indonesia, 269 kilometer north of Atambua in East Nusa Tenggara. The center of this earthquake had a deep depth of 526 km.

Date and Time:	Jun 27, 2026 19:37 (Dili Time) - Jun 27, 2026 10:37 Universal Time.
Location:	197 km north of Dili, Díli, Timor-Leste. Coordinates 6°47'23"S 125°36'43"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.9 Detected by 30 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.057 .
Depth:	526 km (327 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 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 380 thousand people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 380 thousand people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

The highest earthquake impact level for this earthquake is II, which corresponds with very weak shaking and no damage. Roughly 380,000 people are expected to be exposed to this level. The majority of people (roughly 460 thousand) live in an area exposed to level I, where not noticeable and no damage is expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Timor-Leste , around 300 thousand people, with impact levels up to II (very weak shaking, no damage). In Indonesia , around 80 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
463,600	I	Not noticable	None
380,000	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

This earthquake struck within proximity of multiple countries. Timor-Leste and Indonesia are both within 300km distance of its epicenter.

The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Dili in Díli, Timor-Leste. Dili is located 197 kilometer (122 mi) north of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Dili is estimated to be around level I on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (not noticeable, 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)
197 km (122 mi) S from epicenter	Dili Díli, Timor-Leste.	I Not felt
202 km (126 mi) S from epicenter	Likisá Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.
207 km (129 mi) S from epicenter	Maubara Liquiçá, Timor-Leste.
209 km (130 mi) SE from epicenter	Baukau Baucau, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
216 km (134 mi) S from epicenter	Aileu Aileu, Timor-Leste.
223 km (139 mi) SE from epicenter	Venilale Baucau, Timor-Leste.
246 km (153 mi) SE from epicenter	Lospalos Lautém, Timor-Leste.	II Weak
249 km (155 mi) S from epicenter	Maliana Bobonaro, Timor-Leste.
269 km (167 mi) S from epicenter	Atambua East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
283 km (176 mi) S from epicenter	Suai Cova Lima, Timor-Leste.
321 km (199 mi) S from epicenter	Kefamenanu East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
371 km (231 mi) SW from epicenter	Soe East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
387 km (240 mi) NW from epicenter	Katobu Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Earthquake Intensity Map

The intensity in shaking and damage by this earthquake is illustrated through the map below. The highest intensity measured for this earthquake is II.

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.

Aftershocks detected

After this earthquake struck, 1 smaller aftershock occurred. A 4.2 magnitude earthquake hit 4 hrs later 28 km (17 mi) south of this earthquake.

In the days before this main shock, 1 smaller foreshock was detected. Roughly 17 hrs before this earthquake, a foreshock measuring MAG-3.3 was detected nearby this earthquake.

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 3.3	17 hrs earlier Jun 27, 2026 03:00 (Dili Time)	26 km (16 mi) SE from Main Shock.
Main Shock This Earthquake	M 5.9	Jun 27, 2026 19:37 (Dili Time)	-
Aftershock	M 4.2	4 hrs later Jun 27, 2026 23:11 (Dili Time)	28 km (17 mi) S 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.

It's always adviced to be cautious of the risk of a larger shock following any significant earthquake, however this risk is fairly small. There is a roughly 94 percent change that no larger main shock will follow in the days following this earthquake.

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 26th, 2025, when a 6.2 magnitude earthquake hit 291 km (181 mi) further southwest. 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 526 km (327 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 27/06/26 18:58 (). 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.