M5.0 Earthquake 62 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia — September 13, 2020
2020-09-13 18:28:52 UTC (2020-09-13) · approx. 12:28 AM UTC+6 local
On September 13, 2020 at 18:28 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 62 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia, at a depth of 121.5 km and coordinates 4.2449°, 96.6838°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
96.6838°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Meulaboh, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 62 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia on September 13, 2020 at 18:28 UTC had a depth of 121.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 4.2449°, 96.6838°, which is 62 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bmra). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 13, 2020). M5.0 Earthquake 62 km E of Meulaboh, Indonesia — September 13, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bmra/