World

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Sulawesi past midnight

Preliminary data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) report no immediate casualties or significant damage following the earthquake

Updated 34 minutes ago · Published on 16 Aug 2026 9:28AM

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake hits Sulawesi past midnight
A magnitude 6.1 earthquake strikes the Minahasa region of Sulawesi in Indonesia, shortly after midnight on Sunday - August 16, 2026

A MAGNITUDE 6.1 earthquake strikes the Minahasa region of Sulawesi, Indonesia, shortly after midnight on Sunday (Aug 16) sending tremors across several districts in eastern Sabah.

The earthquake was recorded at approximately 12:25am. local time in the Minahasa region of Sulawesi.

Preliminary European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) measurements placed the earthquake at a depth of approximately 51 kilometers (32 miles).

There were no immediate confirmed reports of casualties or significant damage following the earthquake.

Authorities and seismic agencies are monitoring the region for additional information, including possible aftershocks and reports of shaking from communities across Sulawesi.

Indonesia experiences frequent earthquakes because of its location along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said the earthquake, located about 116 kilometres northeast of Palu, Indonesia, caused tremors felt in Tawau, Lahad Datu and Semporna in Sabah.

MetMalaysia reported that there was no tsunami threat to Malaysia from the earthquake. - August 16, 2026

Spotlight

Malaysia

Understanding PAS: Visions and policies for a future Malaysian government?

Malaysia

KDM withdraws support for GRS-led Sabah government

Malaysia

Haze situation in Klang Valley recovering after heavy rains

Malaysia

Tanker lorry driver in fatal crash remanded four days

Malaysia

Helicopter catches fire at Subang Airport

Malaysia

Anwar dismisses KJ’s claims of strained relations with Zahid

World

Singapore tightens sexual offences laws, criminalises non-consensual AI-generated intimate images

Malaysia

MOF: RM1.2b STR Phase Three payments begin for 5.3 million recipients

You may be interested

World

Wildfires force mass evacuations across Europe as heatwave fuels blazes

World

Powerful Flores 7.7-magnitude earthquake kills 20 as two remain buried

World

Trump says he will soon declare Strait of Hormuz a US territory

World

Singapore tightens sexual offences laws, criminalises non-consensual AI-generated intimate images

World

Marcos to endorse 2028 presidential candidate but says choice is not yet made

World

Powerful earthquake strikes off coast of Indonesia; tsunami warning issued

World

Hopes of finding Colombia quake survivors fade as 72-hour rescue window closes