Disaster

M5.3 Earthquake Rocks Labuan Bajo NTT, No Tsunami Threat

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 18, 2026•2 min read

A tectonic earthquake of magnitude 5.3 shook the area about 60 kilometers northeast of Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (10/18/2026) at 15:00:08 Western Indonesian Time. Indonesia's BMKG agency confirmed the shallow 10-km-deep quake has no tsunami potential. The public is urged to stay calm but alert for possible aftershocks.

Key Facts

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at 15:00:08 Western Indonesian Time (WIB), centered about 60 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, NTT (coordinates 8.09° S, 120.26° E).
The hypocenter depth was 10 km — a shallow earthquake — and BMKG confirmed it has no tsunami potential.
As of publication, BMKG had not released felt intensity (MMI) data or reports of damage or casualties.
BMKG urged the public to stay calm but remain alert for possible aftershocks.

Shallow Epicenter, No Tsunami Threat

Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported a tectonic earthquake of magnitude 5.3 striking the Labuan Bajo area of West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, on Sunday (10/18/2026) at 15:00:08 Western Indonesian Time.

The epicenter was located about 60 kilometers northeast of Labuan Bajo at coordinates 8.09° South, 120.26° East, with a hypocenter depth of 10 kilometers. Based on its location and depth, BMKG classified it as a shallow earthquake and confirmed it has no tsunami potential.

Labuan Bajo in West Manggarai Regency is the gateway to Komodo National Park and one of the leading tourist destinations in East Nusa Tenggara. The NTT region is known as a seismically active area, and BMKG continues to monitor seismic activity there.

BMKG: Beware of Aftershocks

As of publication, BMKG had not released felt intensity (MMI) readings or reports of damage or casualties from the quake.

BMKG urged the public to stay calm but remain vigilant for possible aftershocks, and to rely only on information from its official channels.

Official BMKG information is available through the agency's official channels, including bmkg.go.id and the @infoBMKG social media accounts. The public is also urged to inspect buildings before resuming activities if cracks or damage are found after the quake.