M5.3 Earthquake 161 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia — February 16, 2021
2021-02-16 19:09:40 UTC (2021-02-16) · approx. 4:09 AM UTC+9 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.2 (moderate). Aftershock of the M5.7 mainshock.
On February 16, 2021 at 19:09 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 161 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia, at a depth of 46.0 km and coordinates -2.9033°, 139.2142°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. The nearest populated place is Armopa (population 0).
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 5.7 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago 163 km WSW of Abepura, 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
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
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 | 1,262,283 |
| MMI 4 | light | 49,997 |
Earthquake Details
139.2142°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Abepura, Indonesia?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 161 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia on February 16, 2021 at 19:09 UTC had a depth of 46.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -2.9033°, 139.2142°, which is 161 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia. The nearest populated place is Armopa (population 0). 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 M5.7 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.3 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.7 mainshock that occurred earlier 163 km WSW of Abepura, 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: usd000eesi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, February 16, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 161 km WSW of Abepura, Indonesia — February 16, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/usd000eesi/