A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M5.9 hit near the coast of Yamdena island, Tanimbar Islands, Maluku, Indonesia at 07:33 UTC on February 26, 2020. The agency is reporting a depth of 61.2 km (38 miles). EMSC is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 44 km (27 miles).
The epicenter was located 48 km (30 miles) NNW of Saumlaki and 278 km (173 miles) SW of Tual, Indonesia.
There are about 74 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).
14 000 people are estimated to have felt moderate shaking and 67 000 light.
Image credit: Google, TW/SAM
Image credit: Google, TW/SAM
The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unreinforced brick with concrete floor and precast concrete frame with wall construction.
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: Google, TW/SAM
Hurricane-force winds hit Shagonar, Tuva, Russia
June 09, 2021
Hurricane-force winds swept through the Ulug-Khem region of Tuva, Russia on June 5, 2021, damaging numerous homes and leaving many people without power. According to Tuva civil defense and emergency service, wind gusts reached 140 km/h (87 mph) in Shagonar, damaging...
Turkey's Sea of Marmara experiences the largest outbreak of "sea snot" on record
June 07, 2021
A large amount of thick, viscous, mucus-like substance known as marine mucilage or sea snot (phytoplankton bloom) is covering the coastline of the Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, Turkey, threatening marine life and the local fishing industry. Sea snot is caused by the...
Bright meteor recorded over Cordoba, Spain
June 02, 2021
A bright meteor was recorded over Cordoba, Spain at 02:12 UTC on June 2, 2021, and recorded in the framework of the SMART project, operated by the Southwestern Europe Meteor Network (SWEMN) from the meteor-observing stations located at Sevilla, La Hita (Toledo), La...
Nearly 416 000 people displaced after eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, DR Congo
June 01, 2021
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has estimated the total number of displaced people linked to the volcanic eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on May 22, 2021, to be 415 700, with 47% of them children. In the city of Goma, more than 500 000 people have...
At least 9 dead, more than 40 000 people displaced by ongoing floods in Kenya
May 27, 2021
More than 40 000 people have been displaced while at least nine lost their lives due to the ongoing flood situation in Kenya, the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) reported as of Monday, May 24, 2021. Over 40 000 people from 6 580 families have been...
