M6.0 Earthquake 26 km S of Nabire, Indonesia — September 18, 2025
2025-09-18 18:19:49 UTC (2025-09-18) · approx. 3:19 AM UTC+9 local
Felt by 6 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 6.8 (very strong).
On September 18, 2025 at 18:19 UTC, a magnitude 6.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 26 km S of Nabire, Indonesia, at a depth of 28.0 km and coordinates -3.5961°, 135.4658°. The earthquake was reported felt by 6 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 6.8 (very strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 96 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 558, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Topo (population 0).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 6.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 8.3 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
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 6 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 280,193 |
| MMI 4 | light | 908,142 |
| MMI 5 | moderate | 43,720 |
| MMI 6 | strong | 128,945 |
| MMI 7 | very strong | 8,967 |
Earthquake Details
135.4658°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Nabire, Indonesia?
The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck 26 km S of Nabire, Indonesia on September 18, 2025 at 18:19 UTC had a depth of 28.0 km. It was felt by 6 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 6.8 (very strong). For context, this was a strong earthquake capable of causing significant damage.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -3.5961°, 135.4658°, which is 26 km S of Nabire, Indonesia. The nearest populated place is Topo (population 0). View all earthquakes in Indonesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 6.0 earthquakes can continue for weeks to months 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 6.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000qx1z). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, September 18, 2025). M6.0 Earthquake 26 km S of Nabire, Indonesia — September 18, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000qx1z/