A SHALLOW earthquake has been recorded in the Nusa Tenggara Timur region of Indonesia at a depth of 26 kilometres, with moderate shaking reported across parts of Sumba and weaker tremors felt in neighbouring areas, according to Indonesian authorities.
“Based on the location of the epicentre and the depth of the hypocentre, the earthquake is a shallow earthquake,” Indonesia’s Acting Director of Earthquake and Tsunami at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, Rahmat Triyono, said in a statement on Tuesday.
Officials confirmed the 6.0 magnitude quake was classified as a shallow seismic event based on its epicentre location and focal depth.
The tremor was felt at moderate intensity in several areas of Sumba, including Waingapu, Tambolaka, Waibakul and Waikabubak, where it reached level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale, indicating shaking felt widely indoors during daytime conditions.
Weaker shaking was also reported in parts of neighbouring Nusa Tenggara Barat, including Bima and Sumbawa, where intensity reached level III MMI.
Level III MMI is typically described as vibrations clearly felt indoors, similar to the movement caused by passing heavy vehicles.
Light tremors were also recorded as far as Denpasar in Bali, where intensity reached level II MMI.
Authorities confirmed that no tsunami threat was detected following the earthquake.
Rahmat added that continuous monitoring up to 2.10pm local time had not detected any aftershocks. - May 5, 2026
