Magnitude 6.1 Earthquake Strikes Southwest Sumba, Reaches Labuan Bajo

Southwest Sumba — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Southwest Sumba Regency in East Nusa Tenggara at 6:55 a.m. WITA on Sunday, Oct. 4, with its epicenter 14 kilometers southwest of Kodi at a depth of 10 kilometers. Shaking was felt in Labuan Bajo, Manggarai Barat and other parts of East Nusa Tenggara, according to reports citing the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysical Agency, known as BMKG.

The event was initially reported as magnitude 6.1. BMKG information cited by several outlets placed the epicenter offshore at 9.70° south latitude and 118.92° east longitude. The earthquake was also reported as being felt in East Sumba and at intensity V MMI in West Sumba. MMI, or the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale, describes the strength of shaking experienced at a location rather than the energy released at the source.

Why It Matters for Visitors and Residents

For people in Labuan Bajo and elsewhere in East Nusa Tenggara, the report means that noticeable shaking extended beyond the immediate Sumba area. The listed reports describe the earthquake’s location, depth and felt areas; they do not establish a broader disruption to transport, tourism or public services.

BMKG was identified in the reports as Indonesia’s agency responsible for meteorological, climatological and geophysical information. One report said BMKG determined that the earthquake had no tsunami potential. Other reports carried later analysis describing updated parameters, so the figures in this item follow the initial report used for the stated event time, distance and depth.

Sources

• detikBali — regional news organisation
• Radio Republik Indonesia — national public news organisation
• news.okezone.com
• liputan6.com
• cnbcindonesia.com