M5.0 Earthquake near Banda Sea — January 1, 2026
2026-01-01 03:05:26 UTC (2026-01-01) · approx. 12:05 PM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.3 mainshock.
On January 1, 2026 at 03:05 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Banda Sea, at a depth of 180.5 km and coordinates -6.5200°, 129.9390°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 10 days ago near Banda Sea. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
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 | 58,560 |
Earthquake Details
129.9390°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Banda Sea?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck near Banda Sea on January 1, 2026 at 03:05 UTC had a depth of 180.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -6.5200°, 129.9390°, which is near Banda Sea.
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.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.0 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier near Banda Sea. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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: us7000rltq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 1, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake near Banda Sea — January 1, 2026. Retrieved May 15, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rltq/