BMKG reports M5,1 earthquake offshore near Ruteng

Labuan Bajo — A magnitude M5,1 earthquake struck offshore 53 kilometres northwest of Ruteng, Manggarai, on Sunday, 18 October 2026, at 16.00.08 WITA, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency (BMKG). BMKG said the earthquake did not have tsunami potential.

BMKG’s updated analysis placed the earthquake at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre in the sea at 8,17° LS and 120,28° BT. The agency said the tremor was felt at intensity III MMI in Labuan Bajo, Ruteng, Borong, Bajawa and Mbay.

The earthquake was initially reported at M5,3 before BMKG’s updated analysis gave a magnitude of M5,1. The agency’s report identified Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, as the affected area and said the event was a shallow earthquake.

Why it matters to Komodo readers

The reported shaking included Labuan Bajo, the main gateway for travel to Komodo National Park, as well as Ruteng, Borong and Bajawa. BMKG’s assessment that the earthquake had no tsunami potential means the official hazard finding covered the event reported on 18 October 2026.

A separate report by RRI said the earthquake occurred at 15.00.08 WIB, equivalent to 16.00.08 WITA, and placed the epicentre about 60 kilometres northeast of Labuan Bajo. RRI also reported BMKG’s depth figure of 10 kilometres and its no-tsunami assessment.

Sources

• BMKG — Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency
• RRI — Indonesian public radio news organisation
• Tribun Flores — regional news organisation
• volcanodiscovery.com
• earthquaketrack.com
• indoposco.id