Strong M6.4 earthquake hits Banda Sea, Indonesia
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 struck the Banda Sea, Indonesia, at 14:40 UTC on October 28, 2025. The agency is reporting a depth of 144 km (89 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Epicenter of M6.4 earthquake in Banda Sea, Indonesia on October 28, 2025. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 326 km (202 miles) WSW of Tual (population 88 999), 388 km (241 miles) SSE of Ambon (population 347 288), amd 390 km (243 miles) SSE of Amahai (population 47 653).
51 000 people are estimated to have felt weak shaking, and 93 000 light shaking.
There is no tsunami threat from this earthquake.
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.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.4 earthquake Banda Sea, Indonesia — USGS — October 28, 2025
2 M6.4 earthquake Banda Sea, Indonesia — EMSC — October 28, 2025
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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