M 5.5 - 35 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia

Source: USGS · Indonesia

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake was recorded by USGS near 35 km NNE of Ruteng. On the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program scale, M5.5 is classified "Moderate". Among the 1,740 earthquake reports Areazine has published, this M5.5 event ranks stronger than 89% of them (rank #155 by magnitude).

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Magnitude
M 5.5
USGS class
Moderate
Location
35 km NNE of Ruteng
Archive rank
#155 of 1,740
Source
USGS
Published
September 21, 2026
MODERATE

Sits above 89% of the 1,740 earthquakes in the archive by magnitude; 154 ran stronger.

Record status: a snapshot from USGS, not a final record. Check USGS's own event page for aftershocks and any later revision to the magnitude shown here.

What Happened

A magnitude 5.5 mb earthquake occurred 35 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia, on October 20, 2026, at 03:01:36 UTC. The event was recorded at coordinates latitude -8.307, longitude 120.5793, with a depth of 10 km. This depth classifies as shallow (less than 20 km).

Location Details

The earthquake was centered 35 km north-northeast of Ruteng, Indonesia. Coordinates place the epicenter at latitude -8.307 and longitude 120.5793. The shallow depth of 10 km is typical for events in this region.

Impact Assessment

No felt reports were recorded for this event. The Modified Mercalli Intensity reached 6.701. No tsunami was generated (tsunami status: 0). No alert level was issued.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes of this magnitude (M 5.0-5.9) are classified as moderate and can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings. Aftershocks are possible following any earthquake. Residents should follow standard safety procedures, such as dropping, covering, and holding on during shaking.

Source

Data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS): https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000tiur

Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗

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Comparable nationwide notices (length or severity timing) 8

Beyond this USGS earthquake report's own category, Areazine surfaces two nationwide peer sets: length-matched and severity/date-matched notices from elsewhere in the archive, distinct from the same-feed Related list above.

What People Ask

Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.

What was the magnitude of this event?
A magnitude 5.5 mb earthquake struck 35 km NNE of Ruteng, Indonesia, at a depth of 10 km.
What does an M5.5 "Moderate" reading actually indicate?
The USGS classifies M5.5 as "Moderate" on its Earthquake Hazards Program scale. Events in this range are felt over a wide area and can cause significant damage near the epicenter, particularly to older or unreinforced buildings.
Where does this event rank against Areazine's other recorded earthquakes?
This is the #155 strongest of the 1,740 earthquake reports in Areazine's archive by magnitude, stronger than 89% of them and weaker than 154 others.
Was Ruteng likely to feel this earthquake?
This event was centered 35 km NNE of Ruteng. Shaking intensity falls off sharply with distance from the epicenter and depends on depth and local geology, so check the USGS "Did You Feel It?" report for this event for real felt-shaking data rather than assuming from magnitude and distance alone.