M4.8 Earthquake 46 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia — August 18, 2026
2026-08-18 02:42:38 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 10:42 AM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On August 18, 2026 at 02:42 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 46 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia, at a depth of 34.1 km and coordinates -8.2434°, 120.2573°. This earthquake was detected by 28 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 14 hours ago 32 km N of Ruteng, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 4 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
120.2573°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Ruteng, Indonesia?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 46 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia on August 18, 2026 at 02:42 UTC had a depth of 34.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -8.2434°, 120.2573°, which is 46 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 32 km N of Ruteng, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tlk5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 18, 2026). M4.8 Earthquake 46 km NNW of Ruteng, Indonesia — August 18, 2026. Retrieved August 18, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tlk5/