M6.0 Earthquake Rattles Banda Sea, BMKG: No Tsunami Risk

Magnitude 6.0 Quake Shakes Communities Around the Banda Sea

Tempatdonasi.com – A magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck beneath the Banda Sea on Friday evening, September 11, 2026, sending noticeable shaking across several areas of Maluku. The tremor occurred at 6:56 p.m. Jakarta time and was felt most strongly in parts of Central Maluku and Southwest Maluku.

The epicenter was located offshore, about 162 kilometers northeast of Southwest Maluku. The earthquake originated at a depth of 148 kilometers, placing it in the intermediate-depth category. Despite its strength, tsunami modelling found no tsunami threat from the event.

Subduction Activity Behind the Tremor

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency, or BMKG, identified subduction activity in the Banda Sea as the cause of the earthquake. Its analysis indicated a thrust-fault mechanism, meaning movement along the fault involved one section of the earth’s crust being pushed over another.

Earthquakes in this setting can be felt across a wide area, particularly when they occur at considerable depth beneath the seafloor. In this case, residents in several Maluku locations experienced shaking, while the offshore location and depth were important factors in the agency’s tsunami assessment.

BMKG’s earthquake and tsunami director, Wijayanto, said the event was linked to tectonic activity beneath the Banda Sea. The agency continued monitoring seismic conditions after the initial quake and prepared to provide further public updates if necessary.

Strong Shaking Reported in Several Maluku Areas

Amahai in Central Maluku, along with Damer and the Babar Islands in Southwest Maluku, experienced shaking at IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. At that level, people indoors are likely to feel the movement clearly, and some people outdoors may also notice it. Objects inside buildings can shake, rattle, or shift slightly.

Residents in Saumlaki and Tiakur felt lighter shaking at III MMI. That intensity is commonly described as a vibration similar to a large vehicle passing near a building. While less forceful than the tremors reported in Amahai, Damer, and the Babar Islands, it was still strong enough to be recognized by people indoors.

The difference between earthquake magnitude and felt intensity is significant for readers following seismic events. Magnitude measures the amount of energy released at the source of an earthquake. Intensity, by contrast, describes how strongly the shaking is experienced in a particular location. Distance from the epicenter, local ground conditions, and building characteristics can all affect what residents feel.

No Tsunami Risk Identified

Although the quake occurred in a maritime region, BMKG stated that it did not create a tsunami risk. Not every offshore earthquake produces a tsunami. The likelihood depends on factors that include the type of fault movement, the depth of the quake, its location, and whether it causes a substantial displacement of the seafloor.

The Banda Sea is part of an active tectonic environment, so earthquake monitoring remains important even when an event does not trigger a tsunami warning. For communities across Maluku, official information can help distinguish between a felt earthquake, a potential aftershock sequence, and a situation requiring protective action.

As of 7:15 p.m. Jakarta time, no aftershocks had been recorded. There were also no immediate reports of damage following the main tremor. Monitoring remained ongoing after the initial assessment.

Public Urged to Remain Calm and Verify Information

Residents were advised to stay calm, avoid spreading unverified claims, and keep clear of buildings that may have been damaged. In the period after a significant earthquake, information can circulate quickly through messages and social media, making official updates particularly important.

People who have felt strong shaking may also wish to check their immediate surroundings carefully, especially before re-entering a structure that appears damaged. Visible cracks, fallen materials, damaged electrical connections, or weakened parts of a building can present risks even when there is no broad report of destruction.

The September 11 earthquake was a reminder of the seismic activity that affects eastern Indonesia’s island communities. While this event did not lead to a tsunami and had not produced recorded aftershocks by the early evening update, authorities continued observing conditions in the Banda Sea and surrounding areas.