BMKG records magnitude 5.3 earthquake near East Manggarai
BMKG recorded a magnitude 5.3 earthquake northwest of East Manggarai on 21 September 2026. Shaking reached III–IV MMI in Labuan Bajo, Bajawa and Manggarai.
By Mukmin John
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 2 min read
Labuan Bajo — A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck East Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, on 21 September 2026, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG). The earthquake was recorded 32 kilometres northwest of East Manggarai.
BMKG reported that the tremor was felt at intensity III–IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale in Manggarai, Bajawa and Labuan Bajo. It was felt at intensity II–III MMI in Nagekeo and Waingapu.
The BMKG page lists the earthquake’s depth as 10 kilometres and gives a release time of 08.44.07 WIB on 21 September 2026. The agency’s report also states that the earthquake did not have tsunami potential.
Why the reading matters to Flores travellers
The intensity figures describe how strongly people experienced the shaking in each location, rather than the earthquake’s magnitude at its source. The highest reported range, III–IV MMI, included Labuan Bajo, a destination and transport point for visitors travelling through western Flores.
The same earthquake was also felt in Bajawa and Manggarai, while the lower II–III MMI range was reported in Nagekeo and Waingapu. These readings show that the event was perceptible across several parts of eastern Indonesia, although the reports do not state that it caused damage or injuries.
BMKG’s report identifies the event as a tectonic earthquake in East Manggarai. The agency’s listing records the location, magnitude, depth and felt-intensity reports for the 21 September event.
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