Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck southwest of Maluku Tenggara on Monday afternoon (14/7/2025), due to deformation within the Banda Sea plate, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) confirmed.

The quake occurred at 12.49 pm West Indonesia (WIB) time, with an epicenter located 169 kilometers southwest of Southeast Maluku, at a depth of 98 kilometers, and did not trigger a tsunami.

“This was a medium-depth intraplate earthquake caused by deformation within the Banda Sea slab,” said BMKG Earthquake and Tsunami Director Dr. Daryono, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The strike-slip earthquake was felt in Saumlaki (IV–V MMI), Dobo (III–IV MMI), and Banda (III MMI). No casualties or major damage have been reported so far.

BMKG urges residents to remain cautious due to possible aftershocks and advises checking buildings for structural safety before reentry. As of 1.10 pm, no aftershocks had been recorded.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)