M5.9 earthquake 39 km WNW of Maubara, Timor Leste
A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck 39 km WNW of Maubara, Timor Leste on Thu, Oct 19, 1972, 3:18 AM GMT+9 (18:18 UTC), 15 km (9 mi) below the surface.
Map
Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Magnitude
- 5.9 (mw), moderate
- Local time
- UTC
- 1972-10-18 18:18:24 UTC
- Depth
- 14.5 km (9.0 mi), shallow
- Epicenter
- 8.513° S, 124.863° E
- Region
- Timor Leste
- Strongest shaking
- VI, strong shaking
- Tsunami flag
- No
- Status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
Shaking
The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.
- Strongest estimated
- VI, strong shaking
- Peak ground acceleration
- 12.6% of gravity
- Peak ground velocity
- 2.0 cm/s
- Map
- Automatic
Did you feel it?
No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.
How well it is located
Reviewed by a seismologist.
- Magnitude uncertainty
- ±0.20
- Depth from
- From location
Nearest places
Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.
Nearby
Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 0 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.
None recorded.
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Sources
From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem768494 (also filed as atlas19721018181824). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 3:28 PM UTC.