Key Highlights
- A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near Bitung, Indonesia on January 14, 2026.
- The quake was reported by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG).
- Shallow depths of 10 km were recorded at the epicenter.
- Towns like Bitung felt very weak shaking due to the earthquake.
New Earthquake Hits Near Bitung, Indonesia
A moderate magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near Bitung, in the province of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, on Tuesday, January 14, 2026, at 3:58 am local time.
Seismic Activity and Reporting
The earthquake was reported by the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), which is the main agency responsible for monitoring seismic activity in Indonesia. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers beneath the epicenter.
Impact on Nearby Areas
Towns near the epicenter reported very weak shaking. Bitung, with a population of 137,400 people, is approximately 113 kilometers southeast from where the earthquake hit. Another town, also named Bitung but with a larger population of 225,100, located about 119 kilometers away, might have experienced similar effects.
Continuous Monitoring and Updates
The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake may be revised within the next few hours as seismologists review data. Additionally, the citizen-seismograph network of RaspberryShake later reported a magnitude 4.9 earthquake in the same area.
VolcanoDiscovery will update its magnitude and depth calculations if necessary and follow up with any significant new information about the quake. If you’re in the affected areas, please share your experience through their reporting mechanism to provide more first-hand updates to people around the globe who want to know more about this earthquake.
Reporting on Other Seismic Events
In addition to the event near Bitung, other seismic activities were reported across various parts of the world. For instance, a magnitude 3.3 earthquake occurred in Amizmiz, Morocco, and a moderate magnitude 4.6 earthquake was felt near Palmerston North, New Zealand.
The global seismic activity level for January 12-13, 2026, showed significant events with five quakes of magnitude 5.0+, 62 quakes of magnitude 5.0-, and many more smaller earthquakes.
