USGS · August 15, 2026
Magnitude 6.9 earthquake — 9 km WNW of Pematangsiantar, Indonesia
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake was recorded near 9 km WNW of Pematangsiantar, Indonesia on Aug 15, 2026, 05:54 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+7), at a depth of about 175.0 km, according to USGS.
USGSFelt by 44 people · community intensity IV (light)Shaking VPAGER GreenIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-14 10:49 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 6.9 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 9 km WNW of Pematangsiantar, Indonesia
- Local time at the epicentre
- Aug 15, 2026, 05:54 PM — UTC+7
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-08-15 10:54 UTC
- Depth
- 175.0 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- 2.986, 98.985
- Felt reports
- Felt by 44 people · community intensity IV (light)
- Estimated shaking
- V · Moderate
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 751 / 1000 · major event
- Solution quality
- 114 seismic stations used · 34° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Estimated instrumental shaking V (Moderate): Felt by nearly everyone; unstable objects overturn and some plaster cracks.
People who reported it described intensity IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 319,198 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 4,607,747 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Pane Tongah | 9.1 km S | — |
| Pematangsiantar | 9.7 km ESE | 279,198 |
| Sondi | 13.8 km W | — |
| Pematang Raya | 15.5 km W | — |
| Sarimatondang | 15.6 km SSW | — |
| Pekan Bahapal | 25.2 km NE | 40,000 |
| Sipintuangin | 29.0 km SW | — |
| Tigarunggu | 30.8 km WSW | — |
| Parapat | 36.4 km S | 10,000 |
| Ambarita | 38.0 km SSW | 2,000 |
Earthquake history in this area
No earthquake of magnitude 4.5+ has been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Indonesia.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
2 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 9 km WNW of Pematangsiantar, Indonesia
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 9 km WNW of Pematangsiantar, Indonesia earthquake?
Magnitude 6.9 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 175.0 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Aug 15, 2026, 05:54 PM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+7). In universal time: 2026-08-15 10:54 UTC.
Was it felt?
Felt by 44 people · community intensity IV (light). Felt by nearly everyone; unstable objects overturn and some plaster cracks.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Pane Tongah, 9.1 km S.
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
2 further events were recorded within 100 km of the epicentre in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.