NORTH SUMATRA / RankWire.AI / – On Tuesday, offshore from Indonesia’s North Sumatra province, a magnitude 6.1 quake was felt, causing tremors across various parts of Sumatra. The seismic event took place at 1:02:23 p.m. western Indonesian time, which is 06:02:23 UTC. Its epicenter was approximately 147 kilometers southeast of South Nias Regency. Officials recorded the depth of the quake at 29 kilometers beneath the waters to the west of Sumatra.
The BMKG, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, pinpointed the epicenter at 0.65 degrees south latitude and 98.32 degrees east longitude. The strongest reported shaking reached intensity IV in North Tapanuli, while several areas in West Sumatra also felt tremors. Cities including Padang, Padang Pariaman, Pariaman, West Pasaman, and Agam experienced shaking between intensity III and IV.
Even communities farther from the epicenter experienced the quake at lower levels of intensity. Padang Sidempuan, Subulussalam, and South Nias registered intensity III shaking. Meanwhile, Padang Panjang and Central Tapanuli reported intensity II to III, and Gunungsitoli recorded intensity II. According to BNPB, Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the earthquake did not pose a tsunami threat. Authorities continued assessments of affected areas following the tremor.
No tsunami warning issued after the quake
Residents in South Nias noted that the tremors lasted approximately three to five seconds with weak shaking. Local disaster response teams initiated monitoring and coordinated inspections in zones where residents felt the quake. Initial official reports did not indicate any fatalities, injuries, or structural damage. Officials are still gathering data from local authorities as part of routine post-earthquake evaluations following the offshore seismic activity.
The earthquake impacted a wide area, as tremors were felt across several regions in western Indonesia. Intensity levels varied based on proximity to the epicenter, with stronger shaking reported closer to North Sumatra and West Sumatra. No tsunami warning was issued following the magnitude 6.1 event. Subsequent updates from official earthquake records maintained the same magnitude, depth, and offshore location details provided initially.
Response teams continue investigations in impacted zones
The earthquake near South Nias is among the significant seismic events recorded in Indonesia on August 18. Although the offshore epicenter was distant from major population centers, many residents across multiple districts reported feeling the tremor. Ongoing monitoring efforts focus on regions that experienced moderate shaking. Authorities are prioritizing the collection of verified information regarding local impacts while reaffirming that there is no tsunami threat from this offshore quake.
Indonesia frequently experiences seismic activity due to its position atop several active tectonic boundaries. The event on Tuesday struck west of Sumatra, an area with a longstanding history of earthquakes. Confirmed details include a magnitude of 6.1 and a depth of 29 kilometers. The epicenter was identified as 147 kilometers southeast of South Nias, and authorities reaffirmed that no tsunami risk exists from this offshore seismic event.