In the evening of Friday July 24th, 2026, a shallow and significant Magnitude 5.3 foreshock hit under land 197 kilometer from Abepura in Indonesia.
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Earthquake Summary
The earthquake struck on land in Indonesia, 197 kilometer (122 mi) west of Abepura in Papua. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 10 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.
| Date and Time: | Jul 24, 2026 20:11 (Jayapura Time) - Jul 24, 2026 11:11 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 197 km west of Abepura, Papua, Indonesia. Coordinates 2°32'37"S 138°51'40"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.3 Detected by 106 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.056 . |
| Depth: | 10 km (6 mi) A very shallow depth. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely While this was a shallow earthquake, it appears to have occurred under land with a magnitude not strong enough to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Nearby towns and cities
This earthquake may have been felt in Indonesia . The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Abepura in Papua, Indonesia. Abepura is located 197 kilometer (122 mi) west of the epicenter.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place |
|---|---|
| 197 km (122 mi) E from epicenter |
Abepura Papua, Indonesia. |
| 206 km (128 mi) E from epicenter |
Jayapura Papua, Indonesia. |
This is likely a foreshock
This earthquake was followed by a stronger MAG-5.4 earthquake, classifying this earthquake as a foreshock.
Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks
| Classification | Magnitude | When | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreshock | M 3.3 |
3 days earlier Jul 21, 2026 22:44 (Jayapura Time) | 8 km (5 mi) S from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.7 |
3 days earlier Jul 21, 2026 22:47 (Jayapura Time) | 7 km (4 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.9 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 15:46 (Jayapura Time) | 11 km (7 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.0 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 16:38 (Jayapura Time) | 24 km (15 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.0 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 21:20 (Jayapura Time) | 4 km (2.7 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.8 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 23:45 (Jayapura Time) | 46 km (28 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.9 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 23:50 (Jayapura Time) | 1.6 km (1 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.5 |
2 days earlier Jul 22, 2026 23:57 (Jayapura Time) | 10 km (6 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
2 days earlier Jul 23, 2026 00:16 (Jayapura Time) | 31 km (19 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.8 |
2 days earlier Jul 23, 2026 00:22 (Jayapura Time) | 36 km (23 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.1 |
2 days earlier Jul 23, 2026 00:25 (Jayapura Time) | 6 km (4 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.7 |
2 days earlier Jul 23, 2026 01:31 (Jayapura Time) | 15 km (9 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.6 |
2 days earlier Jul 23, 2026 04:58 (Jayapura Time) | 23 km (14 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.0 |
1 day earlier Jul 23, 2026 12:04 (Jayapura Time) | 37 km (23 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.8 |
1 day earlier Jul 23, 2026 18:07 (Jayapura Time) | 28 km (17 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.8 |
1 day earlier Jul 23, 2026 18:49 (Jayapura Time) | 23 km (14 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
19 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 02:42 (Jayapura Time) | 29 km (18 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.8 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:15 (Jayapura Time) | 13 km (8 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.2 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:19 (Jayapura Time) | 19 km (11 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.3 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:24 (Jayapura Time) | 20 km (12 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.1 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:28 (Jayapura Time) | 28 km (17 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.1 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:30 (Jayapura Time) | 36 km (22 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.8 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:34 (Jayapura Time) | 18 km (11 mi) NW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
16 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:37 (Jayapura Time) | 33 km (21 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
15 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 05:50 (Jayapura Time) | 15 km (9 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.7 |
15 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 06:09 (Jayapura Time) | 22 km (13 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.1 |
15 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 06:13 (Jayapura Time) | 5 km (3 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
15 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 06:28 (Jayapura Time) | 6 km (3 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.0 |
14 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 07:29 (Jayapura Time) | 25 km (15 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.1 |
14 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 07:37 (Jayapura Time) | 32 km (20 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.0 |
13 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 08:43 (Jayapura Time) | 26 km (16 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.3 |
3 hrs earlier Jul 24, 2026 18:36 (Jayapura Time) | 12 km (7 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.5 |
1 hr earlier Jul 24, 2026 19:55 (Jayapura Time) | 18 km (11 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock This Earthquake |
M 5.3 |
1 hr earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:11 (Jayapura Time) | 5 km (3 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.7 |
58 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:16 (Jayapura Time) | 18 km (11 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.1 |
54 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:20 (Jayapura Time) | 17 km (10 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 4.1 |
53 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:21 (Jayapura Time) | 33 km (21 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.9 |
38 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:36 (Jayapura Time) | 89 km (55 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 3.9 |
34 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:40 (Jayapura Time) | 19 km (12 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.8 |
31 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 20:43 (Jayapura Time) | 99 km (61 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Foreshock | M 2.8 |
11 mins earlier Jul 24, 2026 21:03 (Jayapura Time) | 12 km (7 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Main Shock | M 5.4 |
Jul 24, 2026 21:14 (Jayapura Time) | - |
| Aftershock | M 4.3 |
10 mins later Jul 24, 2026 21:24 (Jayapura Time) | 29 km (18 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 5.1 |
13 mins later Jul 24, 2026 21:27 (Jayapura Time) | 9 km (6 mi) SE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.9 |
51 mins later Jul 24, 2026 22:05 (Jayapura Time) | 27 km (17 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.9 |
1 hr later Jul 24, 2026 22:35 (Jayapura Time) | 31 km (19 mi) W from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.3 |
1 hr later Jul 24, 2026 22:39 (Jayapura Time) | 17 km (11 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 4.0 |
3 hrs later Jul 24, 2026 23:54 (Jayapura Time) | 30 km (18 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.9 |
6 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 02:55 (Jayapura Time) | 32 km (20 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.7 |
6 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 03:05 (Jayapura Time) | 34 km (21 mi) N from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.7 |
10 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 07:01 (Jayapura Time) | 50 km (31 mi) E from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.6 |
10 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 07:06 (Jayapura Time) | 46 km (28 mi) NE from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 3.0 |
10 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 07:31 (Jayapura Time) | 12 km (8 mi) SW from Main Shock. |
| Aftershock | M 2.6 |
11 hrs later Jul 25, 2026 07:46 (Jayapura Time) | 13 km (8 mi) SW 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 June 1st, 2026, when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit 53 km (33 mi) further north. An even stronger magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck on October 16th, 2025.
In total, 59 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 2 months.
Tsunami very unlikely
While MAG-6.5+ earthquakes may cause tsunami's, it appears that the epicenter of this earthquake hit under land. In addition, the reported depth is deeper than 100km, making the risk of a tsunami even less likely. 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 | Not this earthquake. This earthquake appears to have struck on land far from any coast. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.3. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 10 km (6 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 24/07/26 23:28 (). 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.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000t309
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20260724_0000154
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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