A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck Indonesia’s eastern Papua province on Thursday afternoon, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Fortunately, no tsunami warning was issued, and authorities confirmed that there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Earthquake Details
The tremor hit at around 2:48 pm local time (0548 GMT), with its epicenter located approximately 200 kilometers (125 miles) from Jayapura, the provincial capital of Papua, at a depth of 35 kilometers, according to USGS data.
Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), however, recorded the quake at a slightly lower magnitude of 6.4 and a shallower depth of 16 kilometers.
No Tsunami Threat
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) based in Hawaii confirmed that the earthquake posed no tsunami risk to the surrounding regions.
BMKG’s earthquake and tsunami director Daryono further stated that no aftershocks had been detected following the main tremor.
Located in the Ring of Fire
Indonesia is one of the most seismically active countries in the world, sitting atop the Pacific “Ring of Fire” — a region notorious for frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions caused by colliding tectonic plates.
Papua province, situated on the western part of the island shared with Papua New Guinea, often experiences moderate seismic activity due to its complex tectonic setting.
Summary
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Magnitude: 6.5 (USGS) / 6.4 (BMKG)
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Depth: 35 km (USGS) / 16 km (BMKG)
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Time: 2:48 pm local (0548 GMT)
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Location: 200 km from Jayapura, Papua
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Tsunami: None
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Casualties/Damage: None reported
