M4.9 Earthquake 111 km ESE of Bitung, Indonesia — May 24, 2026
2026-05-24 15:33:13 UTC (2026-05-24) · approx. 11:33 PM UTC+8 local
On May 24, 2026 at 15:33 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 111 km ESE of Bitung, Indonesia, at a depth of 49.2 km and coordinates 1.0225°, 126.0429°. This earthquake was detected by 58 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Indonesia, a region characterized by the convergence of the Indo-Australian, Eurasian, and Philippine Sea plates, forming the Sunda-Banda arc system. The nearest mapped fault system is the Sunda megathrust. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
126.0429°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Bitung, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 111 km ESE of Bitung, Indonesia on May 24, 2026 at 15:33 UTC had a depth of 49.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 1.0225°, 126.0429°, which is 111 km ESE of Bitung, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Has Indonesia had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Indonesia was the M9.1 Indian Ocean earthquake of December 26, 2004. Today's magnitude 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000szxs). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 24, 2026). M4.9 Earthquake 111 km ESE of Bitung, Indonesia — May 24, 2026. Retrieved May 30, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000szxs/