4.9-magnitude quake hits eastern Indonesia, damages homes

April 09, 2026 / 1:29 PM

Sharjah24-AFP: A shallow 4.9-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Indonesia overnight, damaging more than 100 homes and injuring at least 20 people, officials said on Thursday.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake happened just before midnight on Wednesday at a depth of 10.4 kilometres, approximately 104 kilometres east of Maumere in East Nusa Tenggara.

Villages on Adonara worst affected

Local officials reported that two villages on the island of Adonara were the most severely affected, with dozens of homes damaged and several residents injured.

Region prone to seismic activity

Indonesia lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a region known for intense seismic activity that often experiences earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The country has previously suffered devastating quakes, including the 9.1-magnitude earthquake in Aceh in 2004, which triggered a tsunami and resulted in widespread destruction and loss of life.

Experts observe that shallow earthquakes usually cause more damage because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, leading to stronger ground shaking.