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News

Magnitude 6.1 earthquake off Southwest Sumba damages homes, churches

The quake struck at sea near Kodi on 4 October. There was no tsunami; one person was slightly injured.

By The Sumba Times deskPublished 1 min read
Weekuri lagoon, Southwest Sumba. File photo.
Weekuri lagoon, Southwest Sumba. File photo. Photo: Bimantara.prawoto (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick answer

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck at sea about 14 km southwest of Kodi, Southwest Sumba, at 06:55 WITA on Sunday, 4 October 2026, at a depth of 10 km, according to Indonesia's disaster agency BNPB. It had no tsunami potential. Preliminary figures listed 20 damaged houses in Southwest Sumba, three damaged churches and one person slightly injured.

Key points
  • Magnitude 6.1, 06:55 WITA, Sunday 4 October 2026, depth 10 km, about 14 km southwest of Kodi.
  • No tsunami potential, according to the authorities.
  • 20 damaged houses in Southwest Sumba (19 light, 1 moderate) and 3 lightly damaged buildings in West Sumba.
  • 3 churches, including Weetabula cathedral, and a primary school had cracks; 1 person slightly injured.
  • BMKG recorded 62 aftershocks, the strongest of magnitude 4.3, according to media reports.

KODI — A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck at sea about 14 km southwest of Kodi, Southwest Sumba, at 06:55 WITA on Sunday, 4 October, at a depth of 10 km, according to Indonesia's disaster agency BNPB. The authorities said it had no tsunami potential. Strong shaking lasted about a minute in Southwest Sumba, West Sumba and West Manggarai.

Earthquake damage in Southwest and West Sumba

Preliminary figures listed 20 damaged houses in Southwest Sumba (19 lightly, one moderately) in the villages of Waikadada, Weerena, Bondo Kodi and Homba Karipit, and three lightly damaged buildings in West Sumba. Three churches, including the cathedral in Weetabula, a primary school and other public buildings had cracked walls or ceilings.

Injuries, emergency response and aftershocks

One person was slightly injured by falling debris. A command post was set up with 173 personnel on standby. Media reports cited BMKG as recording 62 aftershocks, the strongest of magnitude 4.3.

What it means

Sumba lies in a seismically active region. Residents and visitors can follow official quake and tsunami alerts through BMKG's Info BMKG app. For anyone building on the island, earthquake-resistant design is not optional.

If you are travelling to Sumba

If you are in or travelling to Sumba, the island lies in a seismically active region. Install BMKG's Info BMKG app to receive official earthquake and tsunami alerts, and follow instructions from local authorities after any strong quake.

Frequently asked questions

Was there a tsunami after the 4 October 2026 Sumba earthquake?

No. The authorities said the magnitude 6.1 quake off Kodi, Southwest Sumba, had no tsunami potential.

How much damage did the earthquake cause?

Preliminary figures listed 20 damaged houses in Southwest Sumba, mostly lightly, three lightly damaged buildings in West Sumba, cracks in three churches and a primary school, and one person slightly injured.

How can I get earthquake alerts in Sumba?

Follow official quake and tsunami alerts from Indonesia's meteorology agency through the Info BMKG app.

Planning a trip to Sumba? Our free guides cover when to go, how to get around, costs, safety and culture. Plan your trip →

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