M4.8 Earthquake near Banda Sea — July 17, 2025
2025-07-17 17:04:55 UTC (2025-07-17) · approx. 2:04 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On July 17, 2025 at 17:04 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Banda Sea, at a depth of 125.5 km and coordinates -6.6323°, 129.9390°. This earthquake was detected by 68 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 5.1 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 285 km WSW of Tual, 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.
Earthquake Details
129.9390°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Banda Sea?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck near Banda Sea on July 17, 2025 at 17:04 UTC had a depth of 125.5 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -6.6323°, 129.9390°, which is near Banda Sea.
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 M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 285 km WSW of Tual, Indonesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qd95). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, July 17, 2025). M4.8 Earthquake near Banda Sea — July 17, 2025. Retrieved October 3, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qd95/