M5.3 Earthquake 136 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — June 28, 2025
2025-06-28 12:40:43 UTC (2025-06-28) · approx. 8:40 PM UTC+8 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On June 28, 2025 at 12:40 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 136 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 53.2 km and coordinates 2.7565°, 127.3287°. This earthquake was detected by 82 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 18 days ago 162 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 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
127.3287°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 136 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia on June 28, 2025 at 12:40 UTC had a depth of 53.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 2.7565°, 127.3287°, which is 136 km NNW of Tobelo, 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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 162 km NNW of Tobelo, 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000q9d1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, June 28, 2025). M5.3 Earthquake 136 km NNW of Tobelo, Indonesia — June 28, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000q9d1/