M5.3 Earthquake 120 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia — September 14, 2021
2021-09-14 20:13:55 UTC (2021-09-14) · approx. 2:13 AM UTC+6 local
On September 14, 2021 at 20:13 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 120 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia, at a depth of 22.0 km and coordinates 2.9309°, 95.3897°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
95.3897°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Sinabang, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 120 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia on September 14, 2021 at 20:13 UTC had a depth of 22.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.9309°, 95.3897°, which is 120 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fb5s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, September 14, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 120 km WNW of Sinabang, Indonesia — September 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fb5s/