M 5.2 Earthquake Strikes 122 km NW of Maubara, Timor Leste
Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred 122 km northwest of Maubara, Timor Leste, at a depth of 183.1 km on May 16, 2026, at 00:26:15 UTC.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 20, 2026 and geographically references Timor Leste. Its severity classification of "medium" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Timor Leste.
What Happened
A magnitude 5.2 mb earthquake occurred 122 km NW of Maubara, Timor Leste, at a depth of 183.1 km. The event took place on May 16, 2026, at 00:26:15 UTC.
Location Details
The earthquake was located at coordinates 7.9677° S latitude and 124.3047° E longitude, approximately 122 km northwest of Maubara in Timor Leste. With a depth of 183.1 km, this is classified as a deep earthquake (greater than 70 km), which typically occurs in the Earth's mantle and may result in less surface shaking compared to shallower events.
Impact Assessment
No felt reports have been received, and no tsunami advisory has been issued for this event.
What You Should Know
This moderate earthquake (magnitude 5.2) can potentially cause damage to poorly constructed buildings. Aftershocks are a common possibility with such events, and general safety tips include dropping to the ground, covering under sturdy furniture, and holding on if shaking is felt.
Source
This information is from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). For more details, visit: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000srhi
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
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Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this USGS earthquake report: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (1,194 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (medium) notices issued closest in time to April 20, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.