4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 226 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — September 14, 2026

2026-09-14 21:17:25 UTC (2026-09-14) · approx. 5:17 AM UTC+8 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time21:17 UTC≈ 5:17 AM UTC+8
Depth70.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates3.140°, 126.536°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 14, 2026 at 21:17 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 226 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia, at a depth of 70.0 km and coordinates 3.1402°, 126.5358°. This earthquake was detected by 27 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 3.14°, 126.54°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
70.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
3.1402°N
126.5358°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ticf
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
133.0°
Min Station Distance
6.182°
RMS Residual
0.53 sec
Last Updated
2026-09-21 22:56:18 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Tobelo, Indonesia?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 226 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia on September 14, 2026 at 21:17 UTC had a depth of 70.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 3.1402°, 126.5358°, which is 226 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia. View all earthquakes in Indonesia.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ticf). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 14, 2026). M4.5 Earthquake 226 km NW of Tobelo, Indonesia — September 14, 2026. Retrieved September 21, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ticf/