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M5.7 Depth: 10.0 km

M5.7 Earthquake near Northern Molucca Sea (Indonesia)

UTC time: 2025-12-21 12:21:42 UTC Local time: —

About this earthquake

On December 21, 2025 at 12:21 UTC, a magnitude M5.7 earthquake occurred near Northern Molucca Sea (Indonesia). With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude can damage poorly built structures.

The event was recorded by GFZ. Indonesia: over the past 24 hours, QuakeMap24 logged 57 earthquakes, the strongest at M4.6.

Details

Magnitude
M5.7
Depth
10.0 km
UTC time
2025-12-21 12:21:42 UTC
Local time
—
Country
Indonesia
City
Maluku Utara
Source
gfz
Coordinates
1.50000, 126.39000
Temperature
28.8°C

Map

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Ternate135.8 kmSE210'836
General Santos530.4 kmN722'059

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Similar earlier earthquakes

Earlier recorded earthquakes ranked by distance, magnitude, depth and country within 150 km. Similarity does not imply the same fault or a direct relationship.

85%Similarity M5.22025-07-14 UTC 26.9 kmNorthern Molucca Sea ΔM 0.5Depth difference: 0.0 km 83%Similarity M5.12025-12-09 UTC 28.5 kmNorthern Molucca Sea ΔM 0.6Depth difference: 0.0 km 81%Similarity M5.22025-07-14 UTC 22.0 km115 km WNW of Ternate, Indonesia ΔM 0.5Depth difference: 37.1 km 79%Similarity M4.92025-11-23 UTC 32.0 km ΔM 0.8Depth difference: 7.0 km 78%Similarity M5.22025-07-14 UTC 31.0 km ΔM 0.5Depth difference: 35.0 km

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours2
First 24 hours5
First 72 hours8
Strongest subsequent eventM5.6
M5.62025-12-21 12:21:47 UTC11.9 km129 km E of Bitung, Indonesia M3.02025-12-21 12:38:42 UTC11.0 km M3.22025-12-22 03:51:24 UTC88.6 km M3.12025-12-22 04:36:14 UTC105.1 km M3.42025-12-22 10:05:15 UTC8.0 km M4.12025-12-22 18:48:16 UTC61.7 km M2.72025-12-22 20:15:16 UTC98.6 km M3.02025-12-23 05:35:00 UTC78.4 km M3.42025-12-25 08:50:51 UTC115.4 km M2.62025-12-25 20:48:37 UTC46.9 km M3.12025-12-26 09:30:57 UTC117.4 km M2.72025-12-26 10:23:28 UTC76.1 km

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#4
Earlier events M≥4182
Earlier events M≥547
Compared since2025-01-02

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M6.12025-07-25 21:30:00 UTC84.9 kmNorthern Molucca Sea M5.92025-04-02 21:03:39 UTC79.9 km145 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia M5.82025-07-25 21:29:56 UTC86.8 km M5.52025-08-17 15:03:16 UTC99.3 km118 km WNW of Tobelo, Indonesia M5.52025-08-13 16:45:48 UTC107.9 kmNorthern Molucca Sea

Historic earthquake map · Indonesia

Open history map
Explore recent and long-term earthquake activity in this country. Use filters to narrow down by magnitude, depth, and date range.

Country statistics · Indonesia

Country overview
View earthquake KPIs, strongest and latest events, and averages for this country.

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