Two moderate earthquakes strike Indonesia and the Philippines, no tsunami threat cited

MALAYSIA’S Meteorological Department (METMalaysia) reported that the first quake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, struck the Banda Sea region of Indonesia at 11:05 a.m. local time.

The tremor was centred at 6.7 degrees south latitude and 130.1 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 103 kilometres. It occurred approximately 398 kilometres southeast of Ambon, Indonesia.

A second earthquake, registering 5.1 on the Richter scale, affected the Philippine archipelago at 10:56 a.m., centred at 5.0 degrees north latitude and 127.4 degrees east longitude, with a depth of 65 kilometres.

The tremor’s epicentre lay around 136 kilometres northeast of Talaud Island in Indonesia.

METMalaysia confirmed that despite the seismic activity, there is no threat of a tsunami to Malaysian shores from either earthquake.

The department continues to monitor seismic developments in the region, as Indonesia and the Philippines are located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a zone known for frequent tectonic activity. - January 1, 2026