Strong and shallow M6.7 earthquake hits Sulawesi, Indonesia
A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit 43 km ESE of Palu, Indonesia, at 03:27 UTC on June 16, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Epicenter of M6.7 earthquake in Sulawesi, Indonesia on June 16, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 43 km (27 miles) ESE of Palu (population 373 218), 69 km (43 miles) WNW of Poso (population 47 477), 161 km (100 miles) N of Masamba (population 38 024), 209 km (130 miles) N of Palopo (population 184 681), and 209 km (130 miles) N of Rantepao (population 40 438), Indonesia.
16 000 people are estimated to have felt severe shaking, 165 000 very strong, 574 000 strong, 676 000 moderate, and 3.2 million light.
The USGS issued a Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible, and the impact should be relatively localized.
Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Indonesia.
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 a concrete floor and precast concrete frame with wall construction.
Landslides triggered by this earthquake are estimated to have affected a significant area, with a limited population exposed.
Liquefaction is estimated to have affected a limited area, with a significant population exposed.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
References:
1 M6.7 earthquake 43 km ESE of Palu, Indonesia – USGS – June 16, 2026
2 M6.7 earthquake Sulawesi, Indonesia – EMSC – June 16, 2026
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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