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Earthquakes in Australia

USGS recorded 3 earthquakes in Australia in the last 30 days and 67 in the last year, counting everything of magnitude 1.0 and above. The strongest in that year measured M 5.8.

M 4.1 · south of Sumbawa, Indonesia · 2026-07-11 08:47 UTC M 4.4 · 100 km S of Tambolaka, Indonesia · 2026-07-17 13:07 UTC M 5.3 · 25 km NW of Kupang, Indonesia · 2026-07-26 10:57 UTC

Recent earthquakes in Australia

Last 30 days, newest first as of 2026-08-10 17:03 UTC

Magnitude Location Depth When (UTC)
M 5.3 25 km NW of Kupang, Indonesia 10.0 km deep 2026-07-26 10:57 UTC
M 4.4 100 km S of Tambolaka, Indonesia 35.0 km deep 2026-07-17 13:07 UTC
M 4.1 south of Sumbawa, Indonesia 10.0 km deep 2026-07-11 08:47 UTC

The largest on record in Australia

Since 1900, when the instrumental record becomes usable. The largest is M 8.3 at 1977 Sumba, Indonesia Earthquake on 1977-08-19: great: devastating, felt across enormous distances.

Largest since 1900 USGS

Magnitude Location Date Depth
M 8.3 1977 Sumba, Indonesia Earthquake 1977-08-19 15.9 km deep
M 7.8 249 km SSW of Kencong, Indonesia 1994-06-02 18.4 km deep
M 7.1 south of Australia 2001-12-12 10.0 km deep
M 6.7 297 km S of Praya, Indonesia 1978-04-10 33.0 km deep
M 6.7 38 km WSW of Tennant Creek, Australia 1988-01-22 5.0 km deep
M 6.6 235 km SSW of Kencong, Indonesia 1994-06-03 25.9 km deep
M 6.6 198 km W of Cable Beach, Australia 2019-07-14 10.0 km deep
M 6.6 off the south coast of Australia 1906-03-27 10.0 km deep
M 6.5 40 km ENE of Northam, Australia 1968-10-14 11.2 km deep
M 6.5 275 km S of Kencong, Indonesia 1994-06-04 11.2 km deep

How these numbers were counted

Counts include every earthquake of magnitude 1.0 and above that USGS located in Australia. The search is a latitude and longitude rectangle covering Australia. No region is a rectangle, so events just outside the border can appear; each row shows the location text USGS published, which names the nearest town. Full method, including why counts from different places are not comparable.

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program (FDSN event service). Retrieved 2026-08-10. Public domain.